Tesla will pay journey costs for workers searching for abortion companies

Tesla is covering journey prices for workers looking for out-of-state abortions, joining the ranks of main corporations who’ve launched a similar coverage to profit employees affected by new restrictions in the past few months.

The company said in its 2021 “ Impression Report ” released Friday that it expanded its Safety Net program and medical health insurance choices final yr to include “travel and lodging support for many who might have to hunt healthcare companies that are unavailable in their home state.”

The automotive maker formally moved its company headquarters final year from Silicon Valley to Texas, which passed a legislation banning abortions at roughly six weeks of pregnancy.

Different states have since introduced new restrictions, and a political firestorm was set off this week with the leaked draft of a Supreme Courtroom opinion that would abolish a nationwide proper to an abortion.

In the meantime, Republican lawmakers are taking aim at firms offering to help girls searching for abortions in states with less restrictive laws.

Texas State Consultant Briscoe Cain, a Republican, has said he would propose laws barring native governments in the state from doing business with any company that gives journey benefits for workers searching for abortions. Nationally, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio introduced a invoice on Wednesday that might prohibit corporations from claiming tax deductions for such costs.

Tesla Inc. CEO Elon Musk did not instantly reply to a request for comment, but he tweeted in September that he believes “authorities ought to rarely impose its will upon the folks, and, when doing so, ought to aspire to maximize their cumulative happiness. That said, I would favor to stay out of politics.”