Tesla will pay journey costs for employees looking for abortion providers

Tesla is protecting journey costs for employees in search of out-of-state abortions, becoming a member of the ranks of major corporations who’ve launched an identical coverage to profit employees affected by new restrictions prior to now few months.

The company stated in its 2021 “ Influence Report ” launched Friday that it expanded its Safety Internet program and health insurance offerings final 12 months to incorporate “travel and lodging assist for many who may need to hunt healthcare providers which might be unavailable of their residence state.”

The car maker officially moved its corporate headquarters final 12 months from Silicon Valley to Texas, which handed a regulation banning abortions at roughly six weeks of being pregnant.

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

In the meantime, Republican lawmakers are taking aim at firms offering to help women seeking abortions in states with much less restrictive legal guidelines.

Texas State Representative Briscoe Cain, a Republican, has said he would suggest legislation barring native governments within the state from doing business with any firm that provides travel advantages for employees searching for abortions. Nationally, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio launched a invoice on Wednesday that will prohibit corporations from claiming tax deductions for such costs.

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