Topline
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) on Tuesday said the state would allocate $35 million to launch a new Abortion Services Provider Fund to offer direct support to abortion clinics in the wake of a leaked draft opinion suggesting the Supreme Court is poised to overturn Roe v. Wade, a day after New York lawmakers announced separate legislation to help accommodate an influx of people seeking abortions in the state.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul speaks at a press conference.
Key Facts
Hochul said during a press conference $25 million of the funds, which come from New York’s Department of Health, will go to abortion providers in the state, while $10 million will be allotted to security to help ensure patient and provider safety.
The news comes a day after New York Attorney General Letitia James and lawmakers said they would introduce legislation to establish a Reproductive Freedom and Inequity Program within the Health Department, which will fund abortion providers and nonprofits to increase access to care.
Hochul noted the money would make New York the first state to launch a large-scale fund to provide direct support to abortion providers, saying the country has fought “too long and hard for this access” to “go backwards.”
Crucial Quote
“If we’re going to guarantee the right to an abortion, we have to guarantee access to an abortion,” Hochul said.
Key Background
New York is one of several states that has enshrined the right to abortion into law with its Reproductive Health Act signed in 2019. James and lawmakers Monday said the Reproductive Freedom and Inequity Program would enable abortion providers to improve infrastructure and provide grants to nonprofits offering to help people travel to New York from out of state to receive an abortion. A draft opinion obtained by Politico last week showed the Supreme Court appears poised to strike down Roe v. Wade in the coming weeks. Though Chief Justice John Roberts has said it should not be taken as the court’s final verdict, the Washington Post reported last week a majority of justices still backed overturning Roe. The move could lead to abortion bans in roughly half of states across the U.S., sparking several Democratic-led states to call for action to ensure access to abortion services.
What To Watch For
Whether other states also launch funds. Several Democratic governors are looking to shore up access to abortion services ahead of the final ruling. The federal government is exploring options as well, including by potentially making funds available through Medicaid or another source to help women travel to other states for an abortion, the Washington Post reported last week, citing unnamed sources.
Further Reading
New York Bill Would Help Fund Travel For Abortions (Forbes)
Hochul Allocates $35 Million to Protect N.Y. Abortion Providers (Bloomberg)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/madelinehalpert/2022/05/10/new-york-launches-35-million-fund-to-help-state-abortion-providers/