Tesla can pay travel costs for employees searching for abortion providers

Tesla is covering journey costs for employees searching for out-of-state abortions, joining the ranks of main firms who’ve introduced the same policy to profit employees affected by new restrictions prior to now few months.

The company mentioned in its 2021 “ Affect Report ” launched Friday that it expanded its Security Web program and health insurance choices last yr to include “travel and lodging assist for many who may have to hunt healthcare services which might be unavailable of their dwelling state.”

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

Other 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 will abolish a nationwide proper to an abortion.

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

Texas State Consultant Briscoe Cain, a Republican, has stated he would suggest laws barring local governments in the state from doing enterprise with any company that gives travel benefits for workers searching for abortions. Nationally, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio launched a bill on Wednesday that would prohibit companies 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 “authorities should hardly ever impose its will upon the people, and, when doing so, should aspire to maximize their cumulative happiness. That said, I would favor to stay out of politics.”