U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich introduced new legislation yesterday to establish and support abortion services and reproductive care in New Mexico and other states where abortion is legal.
This legislation, the Abortion Care Capacity Enhancement and Support Services, would establish a grant program for healthcare organizations to provide abortion services and additional reproductive care. Heinrich introduced the ACCESS Act with his colleagues, U.S. Senators Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.)
“The ACCESS Act will help deliver the resources medical providers need to continue providing reproductive health care throughout our state and nationwide,” Heinrich said in a press release.
Heinrich said he will continue to fight for New Mexico to have reproductive rights and abortion access and with this legislation, New Mexicans will not pay the price for the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization.
According to the press release, the ACCESS Act will establish a grant program that will expand the capacity of facilities, purchase of medical supplies or equipment, administration of telehealth services, hiring and training clinical and non-clinical support staff and more. Grants would be awarded to hospitals, clinics and non-profit organizations for in and out-of-state patients seeking these services.
Multiple organizations have endorsed this legislation including the Planned Parenthood Federation of America; Center for Reproductive Rights; Reproductive Freedom for All; All* Above All Action Fund; Power to Decide; Physicians for Reproductive Health; National Council of Jewish Women; National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum; In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda and more.