I 
117TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 8452 
To amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize grants to eligible 
entities to pay for travel-related expenses and logistical support for 
individuals with respect to accessing abortion services, and for other 
purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 20, 2022 
Ms. STRICKLAND (for herself, Mrs. FLETCHER, and Ms. BUSH) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 
A BILL 
To amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize grants 
to eligible entities to pay for travel-related expenses and 
logistical support for individuals with respect to accessing 
abortion services, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Reproductive Health 
Travel Fund Act of 2022’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds as follows: 
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(1) On June 24, 2022, in its decision in Dobbs 
v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the Su-
preme Court overruled Roe v. Wade, reversing dec-
ades of precedent recognizing the constitutional 
right to terminate a pregnancy. 
(2) The abortion access landscape was already 
strained. This decision will decimate access for mil-
lions of people in the United States. Roughly half of 
States are predicted to ban or severely restrict abor-
tion in the coming months. 
(3) The implications of this decision will fall 
hardest on people who already face barriers to 
health care access, particularly Black people, Indige-
nous people, and other people of color, people with 
disabilities, people in rural areas, young people, peo-
ple with documentation barriers, and those having 
difficulty making ends meet. 
(4) People have always had abortions and al-
ways will, even in the face of legal, financial, and 
logistical barriers, or criminalization. While some 
will self-manage their abortions, and have the option 
of using pills that are medically safe and effective, 
many others are traveling hundreds of miles out of 
State, or forced to carry pregnancies to term. 
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(5) Abortion funds and practical support funds 
are community-based organizations that support 
people in overcoming financial and logistical barriers 
to abortion care. 
(6) Funds work together to remove financial 
and logistical barriers to abortion access and have 
been doing this work for years. Some of these bar-
riers are, but are not limited to, transportation, 
food, lodging, childcare, translation, and doula serv-
ices. 
(7) Many funds are led by people who have had 
abortions themselves, including a growing base of 
Black and Brown leaders who have themselves faced 
abortion obstacles and understand the complex cir-
cumstances callers may face. 
(8) Abortion funds have a history of being 
underresourced and rely mostly on volunteer time 
and energy to support communities. 
(9) Abortion and practical support funds hold 
some of the closest ties to people who are having 
abortions and have the first-hand experience, up-to- 
date and on-the-ground knowledge, and the regional 
and national connections needed to support abortion 
seekers financially, emotionally, or logistically. 
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(10) Clinics in States where abortion is legal 
and more accessible are receiving an influx of people 
seeking abortions. Provider shortages plus this rapid 
increase in patients will cause longer waits for ap-
pointments. 
(11) When people are not able to access an 
abortion when they need it, they are often pushed 
much further into pregnancy. This increases costs 
exponentially. For many, the increased financial bur-
den will push abortion care completely out of reach. 
(12) A rapidly changing access landscape, as 
bans are implemented and challenged, means that 
the window to access care in certain States may be 
limited. People who are put in a position where they 
must postpone their care due to financial or other 
constraints may face appointment cancellations due 
to overnight changes in legality. 
(13) Funds often work with each other if they 
cannot fully assist a caller, or if a caller is traveling 
across regions. A national network of almost 100 
abortion and practical support funds has dem-
onstrated these funds are uniquely positioned to lead 
in this moment and need support. 
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SEC. 3. GRANTS TO PAY FOR TRAVEL EXPENSES AND 
LOGISTICAL SUPPORT FOR INDIVIDUALS AC-
CESSING ABORTION SERVICES. 
Part D of title III of the Public Health Service Act 
(42 U.S.C. 254b et seq.) is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘Subpart XIII—Accessing Abortion Services 
‘‘SEC. 340J. GRANTS TO PAY FOR TRAVEL EXPENSES AND 
LOGISTICAL SUPPORT FOR INDIVIDUALS AC-
CESSING ABORTION SERVICES. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may award grants 
to eligible entities to pay for travel-related expenses and 
logistical support for individuals with respect to accessing 
abortion services. 
‘‘(b) TIMING.—Beginning not later than 30 days 
after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary 
shall solicit applications for grants under this section. 
‘‘(c) USE OF FUNDS.— 
‘‘(1) PERMISSIBLE USES.—An eligible entity re-
ceiving a grant under this section shall use the grant 
for travel-related expenses and logistical support for 
individuals with respect to accessing abortion serv-
ices, which may include any of the following ex-
penses and support: 
‘‘(A) Round trip travel to the location 
where the abortion services are provided. 
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‘‘(B) Lodging. 
‘‘(C) Meals. 
‘‘(D) Childcare. 
‘‘(E) Translation services. 
‘‘(F) Doula care. 
‘‘(G) Patient education and information 
services. 
‘‘(2) ORGANIZATIONAL COSTS.—An eligible en-
tity receiving a grant under this section may use up 
to, but not more than, 15 percent of the grant funds 
to cover organizational costs such as— 
‘‘(A) community outreach efforts; 
‘‘(B) physical infrastructure construction 
and maintenance; 
‘‘(C) website development and mainte-
nance; and 
‘‘(D) increasing staff capacity and train-
ing. 
‘‘(3) IMPERMISSIBLE USES.—An eligible entity 
receiving a grant under this section shall not use the 
grant for costs of an abortion procedure. 
‘‘(d) APPLICATIONS.—To seek a grant under this sec-
tion, an eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary an 
application in such form, at such time, and containing 
such information as the Secretary determines appropriate. 
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