Democrats offer travel grants to out-of-state abortion seekers

Democratic lawmakers have passed legislation that would provide assistance to people who want to travel out of state to get an abortion.

It is the latest effort by Democrats to minimize the impact of the Supreme Court’s repeal of the Reproductive Health Travel Fund Act. Roe v. Wade.

Last week, the House passed legislation to protect the right to travel across state lines to seek an abortion after several states blocked the process following the court’s decision, though it faces a tough chance of passing the evenly divided Senate.

Reproductive Health Travel Fund Act by Representative Marilyn Strickland of Washington Wednesday establishes a grant program through the Department of Health and Human Services to ease the financial burden on those who need to travel long distances to access abortions.

“Safe and legal reproductive health services, including abortion, should not be limited to those who can afford to travel,” he said. Strickland.

“A decision to overturn Rowe will hurt low-income families across the country, especially women of color. It is our responsibility to ensure equitable access to reproductive health care for all women, regardless of where they are.”

Missouri Rep. Cory Bush and Texas Rep. Lizzie Fletcher were among 17 members of Congress arrested during Tuesday’s abortion rights protest over the bill.

The bill proposes to amend the Public Health Service Act to “authorize eligible entities to reimburse individuals for travel-related expenses and logistical support for abortion services, and for other purposes.”

The Supreme Court’s ruling on June 24 removed federal abortion rights, and nearly half of several Republican-led states in the US banned or restricted abortions shortly after the decision, with restrictions in other states taking effect later.

RoThe recent failure of a law banning all abortions in Texas arose. But many Texas women have been forced to leave the state for abortions since last September, when a Texas law banning most abortions after six weeks of pregnancy makes no distinction for rape or consanguinity.

President Joe Biden highlighted the devastating impact of the ruling, citing the case of a 10-year-old Ohio girl who was forced to undergo a drug-induced abortion in neighboring Indiana following an Ohio law banning abortion after a heartbeat was detected. Being practical.

The case has sparked a political firestorm as conservatives question its validity — and Indiana Republicans have floated a proposal that would ban abortions with a few exceptions.

Abortion rights advocates have warned that women and girls who are denied abortions are disproportionately affected, especially as women and girls struggle to cover the costs associated with traveling long distances for abortions.

And while many have donated to abortion funds in recent weeks, some who manage those funds fear there won’t be enough to meet the demand as more patients seek help paying for out-of-state abortions.

“Congress has a moral responsibility to do everything we can to support people who need abortion care,” Bush said. “This legislation would provide funding to community-based organizations that help people in trigger-ban states like Missouri now travel out of state to obtain abortions.”

Missouri’s 2019 law banning most abortions was struck down on the day of the Supreme Court’s ruling.

“In my home state of Texas and across the country, we are in a health care crisis—the crisis is getting worse every day,” Fletcher added.

“One way people and organizations can help respond to this crisis is by providing assistance to eligible entities to pay for travel expenses and logistical support for women seeking abortions in states where they are legal. They did.