Tesla will pay travel costs for workers looking for abortion providers

Tesla is overlaying travel prices for employees looking for out-of-state abortions, becoming a member of the ranks of major corporations who’ve launched a similar coverage to learn workers affected by new restrictions in the past few months.

The company said in its 2021 “ Affect Report ” released Friday that it expanded its Safety Internet program and medical insurance choices last 12 months to incorporate “journey and lodging support for many who may need to hunt healthcare companies which can be unavailable of their dwelling state.”

The car maker officially moved its company headquarters last yr from Silicon Valley to Texas, which passed a law banning abortions at roughly six weeks of being pregnant.

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

In the meantime, Republican lawmakers are taking goal at companies offering to help girls in search of abortions in states with less restrictive legal guidelines.

Texas State Representative Briscoe Cain, a Republican, has stated he would suggest laws barring native governments within the state from doing enterprise with any company that gives travel benefits for workers looking for abortions. Nationally, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio introduced a bill on Wednesday that will prohibit companies from claiming tax deductions for such costs.

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