Murray, Strickland Introduce Legislation to Help Women Travel for Abortion Care By Creating Reproductive Health Travel Fund

Reproductive Health Travel Fund Act would help women who lack access to abortion care pay for travel-related expenses to get the health care they need

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Patty Murray, a senior member and former chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) joined U.S. Representative Marilyn Strickland (D-WA-10) in introducing the Reproductive Health Travel Fund Act last week, legislation to help women access needed abortion care by establishing a new federal grant program for organizations—including abortion funds—that offset the cost of travel-related expenses for abortion care.

“In overturning Roe and passing one extreme state abortion ban after the next, Republicans have unleashed a full-fledged health care crisis that is jeopardizing women’s health and forcing them to stay pregnant against their will. I’m proud to introduce this legislation with Senator Baldwin to help ease the financial burden on vulnerable women who are being forced to travel across state lines to access the health care they need,” said Senator Murray. “Every woman deserves to have control over her own body and be able to get the care she needs—no matter what state she lives in—and that’s what this bill will help deliver.”

“One year ago, the Supreme Court ripped the promise of equitable access to reproductive medical care away from millions of Americans, and MAGA extremists have spent every day since then trying to enact a national abortion ban,” said Rep. Strickland. “Access to safe and legal reproductive health care, including abortion, should be accessible to everyone, but care is too often out of reach for low-income families and women of color across the country. The Reproductive Health Travel Fund Act fulfills our responsibility to guarantee reproductive freedom for all women regardless of where they live.”

“Right now, in states across the country, millions of Americans are unable to make their own health care decisions,” said Senator Baldwin. “Women in states like Wisconsin are being forced to travel out of state just to see a doctor for critical health care, including abortion care. 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. By reducing the costs of travel for people seeking reproductive care, more Americans will have the freedom to make the health care decisions that are best for their family, health, and future.”

The Reproductive Health Travel Fund Act would set up a grant program, authorized at $350 million per year for Fiscal Years 2024 through 2028, to help ease the financial burden associated with traveling long distances to access safe and legal reproductive health care. The legislation would allow the Treasury Secretary to award grants to eligible entities to pay for travel-related expenses and logistical support for individuals accessing abortion services. Funds, made available through a competitive grant, could be used for round trip travel, lodging, meals, childcare, translation services, doula care, patient education and information services, and lost wages.

Eligible entities include non-profits or community-based organizations that assist individuals seeking abortions. Grants would be prioritized for entities that serve people who live in a jurisdiction that has banned or severely restricted access to abortion, serve those who travel to a jurisdiction to access abortion care, or have a program in operation that helps patients access abortion services.

In addition to Senators Murray and Baldwin, the Reproductive Health Travel Fund Act is cosponsored by Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Tina Smith (D-MN), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL). In the House, Congresswomen Lizzie Fletcher (D, TX-07), and Cori Bush (D, MO-01) joined Rep. Strickland in leading the introduction of the Reproductive Health Travel Fund Act.

The Reproductive Health Travel Fund Act is supported by the National Partnership for Women & Families, NARAL Pro-Choice America, National Council of Jewish Women, National Network of Abortion Funds, Center for Reproductive Rights, NARAL Pro-Choice America, Chicago Abortion Fund, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, and Janes Due Process.

A summary of the Reproductive Health Travel Fund Act is available here.

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