The Wisconsin State Capitol dome in Madison. PC: Fox 11 Online
MADISON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Wisconsin Republicans are introducing a new bill that has sparked debate over medical waste from abortion pills.
The legislation is called “Clean Water for All Life.” It would require patients to capture their medical waste produced by abortion pills. Republicans said it would help protect Wisconsin’s waterways.
“It addresses the fact that we have endocrine disruptors that are going into our water on a regular basis in our state and our nation, due to women aborting at home,” State Rep. Lindee Brill, R-Sheboygan Falls, said.
Brill, along with State Rep. Nate Gustafson, R-Omro, and State Sen. Andre Jacque, R-New Franken, are spearheading the bill.
It would mandate “proper” disposal of medical waste, like blood and tissue. Doctors would be required to provide patients with a “catch kit” and medical waste bag with instructions. Patients would have to return the bag to their physician for disposal.
“If we’re gonna have these type of procedures done in our state, we need to make sure that we’re catching that hazardous waste and not putting it directly into our water stream,” Brill said.
Brill cited reports from the New York Academy of Sciences and NYU Langone Health, arguing endocrine disruptors contaminate the water.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported last week the FDA rejected a petition from Students for Life requesting restricted access to mifepristone. The FDA rejected the petition due to a lack of evidence that the pills impact the environment.
State Democrats are furious with the legislation. In a virtual press conference Monday, lawmakers said it’s a way for Republicans to attack abortions and target miscarriages.
“I truly cannot emphasize enough how weird and evasive this bill is. Senator Jacque’s excuse for forcing such grotesque overreach is to protect water quality. Let’s be clear: there is absolutely no evidence to back that up,” State Sen. LaTonya Johnson, D-Milwaukee said.
“There is no basis in science for this kind of fear mongering and scare tactics,” State Sen. Kelda Roys, D-Madison, said.
Brill said this bill is not about targeting women who miscarry. She believes it’s about protecting life and water.
“This is an issue of both environment and abortion. They’re just choosing to ignore that part because it doesn’t fit their narrative,” Brill said.
Under the bill, abortion drug manufacturers would be legally responsible for the medical waste’s disposal.
The bill is in the early stages and is awaiting a committee assignment.
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