Tesla will pay journey costs for staff looking for abortion services

Tesla is masking travel prices for workers searching for out-of-state abortions, becoming a member of the ranks of major corporations who’ve launched an identical coverage to benefit workers affected by new restrictions in the past few months.

The corporate stated in its 2021 “ Impact Report ” released Friday that it expanded its Security Net program and health insurance offerings final yr to incorporate “travel and lodging support for individuals who may need to seek healthcare providers which are unavailable of their dwelling state.”

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

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

Meanwhile, Republican lawmakers are taking purpose at companies providing to assist ladies searching for abortions in states with much less restrictive legal guidelines.

Texas State Consultant Briscoe Cain, a Republican, has mentioned he would suggest legislation barring local governments in the state from doing enterprise with any firm that provides travel benefits for workers seeking abortions. Nationally, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio introduced a bill on Wednesday that would prohibit corporations from claiming tax deductions for such costs.

Tesla Inc. CEO Elon Musk did not instantly respond to a request for remark, but he tweeted in September that he believes “government should rarely impose its will upon the people, and, when doing so, ought to aspire to maximize their cumulative happiness. That mentioned, I would favor to remain out of politics.”