Tesla pays travel prices for workers searching for abortion providers

Tesla is covering journey costs for employees looking for out-of-state abortions, becoming a member of the ranks of main firms who’ve introduced a similar policy to profit employees affected by new restrictions previously few months.

The company said in its 2021 “ Affect Report ” released Friday that it expanded its Safety Net program and medical insurance offerings last yr to incorporate “travel and lodging help for individuals who may need to hunt healthcare services which might be unavailable in their dwelling state.”

The automobile maker formally moved its corporate headquarters last 12 months from Silicon Valley to Texas, which handed a regulation 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 might abolish a nationwide proper to an abortion.

In the meantime, Republican lawmakers are taking intention at corporations providing to help ladies seeking abortions in states with less restrictive laws.

Texas State Representative Briscoe Cain, a Republican, has said he would propose legislation barring local governments in the state from doing business with any firm that provides travel advantages for workers in search of abortions. Nationally, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio introduced a invoice on Wednesday that may prohibit corporations from claiming tax deductions for such costs.

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