Us Congress House Bill HB7059

Us Congress 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/22/24
• Refer: 1/22/24
• Refer: 1/26/24

Caption

ACCESS Act of 2024 Abortion Care Capacity Enhancement and Support Services Act of 2024

Impact

If enacted, the bill would allocate $200 million annually from 2024 to 2028 to finance grants to eligible healthcare entities. These grants are intended to support activities like expanding facilities, improving medical supplies, and employing additional clinical staff. The focus of the funding will generally prioritize organizations in states experiencing a notable influx of out-of-state patients seeking abortion services. This policy aims to diminish the obstacles faced by individuals, particularly marginalized groups disproportionately affected by restrictive laws, thereby facilitating more equitable access to reproductive healthcare.

Summary

House Bill 7059, known as the Abortion Care Capacity Enhancement and Support Services Act of 2024 (or the ACCESS Act of 2024), aims to amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize a federal grant program designed to increase capacity for providing abortion services and other sexual and reproductive health care. The bill recognizes the heightened demand for abortion services, especially in states where abortion remains legal, following recent legal changes that have restricted access in various jurisdictions. With the increase in patients traveling from states with stricter abortion laws, this initiative intends to address the growing strain on healthcare facilities by enhancing service capacity.

Contention

Despite its supportive intent, the bill faces potential contention from various stakeholders. Some organizations argue that while the bill attempts to mitigate access challenges in states where abortion is legal, it might unintentionally propagate the disparities in states with more restrictive legislation. Critics may be concerned that federal grants could encourage or lead to an increase in abortion services in a divided political landscape where such issues are sensibly contentious. Additionally, discussions may arise regarding the effectiveness of merely increasing capacity without addressing systemic barriers such as socioeconomic factors that affect access to reproductive healthcare.