Congressman Dan Goldman Pushes for Additional Resources for Overwhelmed Reproductive Health Care Centers

The ‘ACCESS Act’ Would Establish Grant Program to Expand Health Care Providers’ Capacity to Provide Out-of-State Abortion Seekers with Care

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Washington, DC – Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10) joined Congresswoman Yadira Caraveo (CO-08) and Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17) in introducing the ‘Abortion Care Enhancement and Support Services (ACCESS) Act.’ The legislation would establish a grant program to increase health care providers’ capacity to provide reproductive health care services in response to the influx of out-of-state abortions.

In the wake of the devastating Dobbs decision, state-level abortion bans have forced women to travel across state lines to access necessary health care. These increased out-of-state visits are overwhelming abortion clinics with thousands of new clients, increased wait times and backlogs for reproductive health care.

“The increasing attacks on reproductive rights have placed an enormous amount of stress on health care providers across the country, and our health care systems in states where reproductive health care remains accessible are quickly becoming overwhelmed,” Congressman Dan Goldman said. “Urgent action is required to reduce these long wait times that are prolonging pregnancies and putting women in risk of additional complications. I am proud to support medical practitioners’ efforts to help women access the care that they need but cannot receive in their home state.”

The ‘ACCESS Act’ would authorize $200M for each of fiscal years 2024 through 2028 in grants to ensure health providers can accommodate their new growing client base. These grants would expand facilities’ resources and increase their capacity by investing in more exam operating and recovery rooms, medical supplies, and telehealth services including audio, text, and video messaging. Additionally, this legislation ensures the hiring of more staff and personnel to not only perform abortion procedures, but also to provide accurate educational patient resources, interpretation and translating services, and counseling and recovery care.

Congressman Dan Goldman is committed to preserving access to abortion services and ensuring that resources are widely available to every woman across the nation. 

Earlier this year, Congressman Goldman introduced the ‘Abortion Care Awareness Act,’ to increase access to medically accurate information about abortion, specifically medication abortion. This legislation would ensure people have access to accurate information about where and how to obtain abortion services across the country, how to avoid anti-abortion centers intended to deceive patients, and how to identify misinformation about abortion care.

Earlier this month, Goldman cosponsored the ‘Reproductive Health Travel Fund Act,’ which would support women attempting to access abortion care that may be unavailable in their state. This legislation would provide grants to non-profit and community-based organizations – including abortion funds – to offset the cost of travel-related expenses.

Earlier this week, Congressman Dan Goldman cosponsored the ‘Affordability is Access Act’ in order to ensure the affordability of FDA-approved over the counter (OTC) birth control without a prescription. As soon as the FDA approves the distribution of a daily-use oral birth control pill forpublic consumption, this legislation would require private health insurers to cover the full costs for patients under their plans.

Congressman Goldman is a member of the Pro-Choice Caucus.

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