Senate Dems introduce bill funding travel for abortion
Senate Democrats on Thursday introduced a bill that would help fund expenses for women who need to travel to undergo abortion procedures.
Sens. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) and Patty Murray (D-Wa.) are introducing the Reproductive Health Travel Fund Act. The bill would authorize $350 million annually in grants over the next five years for organizations and abortion funds to help cover the cost of patients’ travel for the procedure.
- “Right now in states across the country, Americans are unable to make their own health care decisions,” said Baldwin in a statement.
- “Women in states like Wisconsin are being forced to travel out of state just to see a doctor for critical health care, including abortion. And for too many, the cost of travel, child care, overnight housing, and time away from work puts safe, comprehensive reproductive care totally out of reach.”
The funds would include associated expenses for lodging, child care and meals during the travel — as well as translation and patient education services.
The Journal of the American Medical Association found in a recent study that the average travel time for women seeking abortion services has more than tripled since the fall of Roe in June.
Baldwin and Murray’s bill would have the Treasury secretary award the grants to nonprofits, community-based organizations and other eligible entities that help women access the procedure, with priority given to groups that serve women from areas where abortion care is banned or restricted.
