Tesla pays travel costs for employees searching for abortion providers

Tesla is masking travel costs for employees seeking out-of-state abortions, joining the ranks of major firms who’ve launched an identical coverage to benefit staff affected by new restrictions previously few months.

The corporate said in its 2021 “ Impression Report ” launched Friday that it expanded its Security Web program and medical insurance choices final 12 months to incorporate “journey and lodging support for those who may need to hunt healthcare companies that are unavailable in their residence state.”

The car maker officially moved its company headquarters final year 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 may abolish a nationwide proper to an abortion.

In the meantime, Republican lawmakers are taking aim at companies offering to assist girls searching for abortions in states with less restrictive legal guidelines.

Texas State Representative Briscoe Cain, a Republican, has said he would suggest legislation barring local governments in the state from doing business with any company that gives travel benefits for employees looking for abortions. Nationally, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio launched a invoice on Wednesday that would prohibit companies from claiming tax deductions for such prices.

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