Congresswoman Caraveo Introduces Bill to Expand Capacity for Abortion Services

Posted: January 25, 2024

Congresswoman Yadira Caraveo, M.D. (CO-08), the only doctor to represent Colorado in Congress, announced her latest action on Jan. 22, to protect womens’ access to abortion services and reproductive health care by introducing the Abortion Care Enhancement and Support Services (ACCESS) Act of 2024 with Reps. Judy Chu (CA-28), Veronica Escobar (TX-16), and Sara Jacobs (CA-51).This legislation will establish a grant program to increase capacity to provide abortion services and other reproductive health care services for millions of women nationwide.

“As a doctor, I never thought that the patients I cared for in the clinic would have their freedom taken away by the government. The interference of extremist judges between a woman and her doctor is causing increasing demand in hospitals and clinics in Colorado. I am proud to introduce the ACCESS Act of 2024 to ensure that Coloradans have the freedom to access abortion services without increased wait times, and are able to provide care for out-of-state patients” Caraveo stated.

The ACCESS Act would carry out a grant program to increase capacity to provide abortion services and other sexual and reproductive care in states where abortion is still legal. Eligible entities (e.g. hospitals, clinics, etc.) in states where abortion services are legal out of the permissible exceptions would be able to apply for funding to expand their capacity to provide abortion care to accommodate both their in-state residents and out-of-state individuals coming to seek care.

Activities under this grant will include:

Expanding the facility to include more exam, operating, and recovery rooms;
Purchasing medical supplies to provide reproductive and sexual health care;
Administering telehealth services, including audio, text, and video messaging;
Contracting or hiring necessary staff and personnel;
Training programs to increase support staff;
Creating accurate and educational patient resources;
Interpretation and translating services;
Referrals and counseling; and
Recovery care

“After the Dobbs decision, states across the nation implemented partial and complete abortion bans—meaning people’s zip code dictates the accessibility and safety of their reproductive rights. When patients who live in states with restrictive laws travel hundreds or thousands of miles to receive abortion care where it remains accessible, it can put strain on resources and clinics in areas like my district in California. It is absolutely crucial that we offer support to facilities grappling with increased demand, and our ACCESS Act legislation accomplishes just that.” Congresswoman Chu stated.

“After the Supreme Court stripped our constitutional right to abortion, clinics in states like California have been overwhelmed with the influx of new patients with little additional resources and funding. Some clinics in my state have even received 4 times as many abortion patients since the fall of Roe. That’s why I’m proud to join this strong coalition of women to introduce the ACCESS Act to expand the reach of clinics’ abortion services and sexual and reproductive health care so they can serve even more people in need.” said Congresswoman Jacobs.

“Since the overturning of Roe v. Wade, our reproductive freedoms have been under constant attack by Republicans across the country,” said Congresswoman Escobar. “The women of my home state of Texas have felt the devastating consequences of these draconian measures and how burdensome it has become to leave the state to get critical care. My Democratic colleagues and I remain committed as ever to protecting women’s rights to make their own reproductive health decisions, no matter where they live. I am proud to co-lead the Abortion Care Capacity Enhancement and Support Services (ACCESS) Act of 2024, which would improve the resources and capacity of clinics around the country that have stepped up to provide essential health services to women who are denied care in their own state.”

Since the overturn of Roe v. Wade in June 2022, obstacles to access abortion services have grown increasingly more common as clinics have stopped offering abortion services or have closed their doors altogether. In the first 100 days after Roe was overturned, over 60 clinics in 15 states stopped providing abortion services. Additionally, roughly half of U.S. states now have laws that restrict or ban abortion services.

As a doctor, I never thought that the patients I cared for in the clinic would have their freedom taken away by the government.”
Congresswoman Yadira Caraveo

While abortions have decreased in the states that restrict access, they have significantly increased in states where abortion care is more readily available. These states have seen high influxes of out-of-state patients, which has caused increased delays in accessing abortion services and other sexual and reproductive health care services. In the Myers Abortion Appointment Availability Survey, 11 states have reported appointment wait times of more than five business days, and four states had wait times of over a week. Health care facilities nationwide are experiencing burdens on their capacity to provide comprehensive abortion services and reproductive health care.

Prior to the Supreme Court decision, clinics across Colorado were already overbooked, creating weeks-long wait times for appointments. Following the decision, Colorado clinics projected an 80% increase in abortion care patient volume. All clinics across the state saw an increase in out-of-state patients around the 12-week stage of pregnancy. While patient volume has slowly decreased, many clinics are still inundated by the influx of patients, which has contributed to extreme burnout and stress among reproductive health care providers. Congresswoman Caraveo is committed to ensuring Coloradans have the freedom to access abortion care and the ACCESS Act would help decrease the wait times they are experiencing by supporting local clinics and hospitals.

“As countless patients are being forced to travel to access abortion, providers are on the front lines of this public health crisis and are navigating unimaginable challenges at the hands of anti-abortion lawmakers in states around the country. We are grateful to Rep. Caraveo for her work to protect access to reproductive health care. This bill is an important step towards ensuring abortion providers can deliver essential time-sensitive health care to people who need it.” said Karen Stone, Vice President, Public Policy & Government Relations, Planned Parenthood Federation of America.

The ACCESS Act would bolster the capacity of health care facilities nationwide to ensure that both state residents and out of state individuals receive access to comprehensive and timely abortion services and reproductive health care. The legislation is currently endorsed by the following organizations: Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Center for Reproductive Rights, Reproductive Freedom for All, All* Above All Action Fund, Power to Decide, Physicians for Reproductive Health, National Council of Jewish Women, National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum, In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda, National Partnership for Women and Families, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights.

This legislation is co-sponsored by Reps. Eleanor Holmes Norton, Rashida Tlaib, Jahana Hayes, Susan Wild, Gerald Connolly, Andrea Salinas, Jan Schakowsky, Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, Dina Titus, Angie Craig, Jasmine Crockett, Nydia Velázquez, Mark Takano, Jennifer McClellan, Alma Adams, Barbara Lee, Robert Garcia, Deborah Ross, Bonnie Watson Coleman, Kathy Castor, Nikema Williams, Melanie Stansbury, David Trone, Maxwell Frost, Julia Brownley, Brittany Pettersen, Lizzie Fletcher, Sean Casten, Summer Lee, Colin Allred, Haley Stevens, Abigail Spanberger, Danny Davis, Grace Meng, Susie Lee, Lois Frankel, Kevin Mullin, Dan Goldman, Adam Smith, Lori Trahan, Juan Vargas, John Larson, Frederica S. Wilson, Hank Johnson Jr., Jared Moskowitz, Diana DeGette, Jill Tokuda, Sylvia Garcia, Nanette Barragán, Ro Khanna, Madeleine Dean, Norma Torres, Adriano Espaillat, Emilia Sykes, Eric Sorenson, Delia Ramirez, Glenn Ivey, André Carson, Steve Cohen, and Becca Balint.

Last year, Rep. Caraveo stood up for women’s reproductive rights with her original co-sponsorship of the Women’s Health Protection Act, a bill enshrining abortion protections into federal law. Additionally, she has stood up for the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) authority to approve medication used for abortion care. In Congress, Dr. Caraveo will always fight to protect a woman’s right to make her own choices about her body and her healthcare.

Read the full bill here.