Federal Fund Proposed to Cover Travel, Childcare, and Lost Wages for Out-of-State Abortion Access

The Reproductive Health Travel Fund Act of 2025 is setting up a major federal program to tackle one of the biggest post-Roe problems: the logistical nightmare of traveling hundreds of miles for healthcare. This bill authorizes $350 million annually from Fiscal Year 2026 through 2030 to create a grant program run by the Secretary of the Treasury. The money will flow to eligible non-profit groups—like existing abortion funds—to cover the costs of travel, lodging, meals, childcare, and even lost wages for individuals who must cross state lines to access abortion services (SEC. 3).

The Logistical Lifeline

Think of this as federal funding for the practical support that keeps people from having to choose between their health and their paycheck. For someone living in a state with a ban, needing to travel 500 miles means taking two days off work, arranging childcare, finding a hotel, and paying for gas. This grant money is specifically designed to cover those exact costs. Crucially, the bill notes that the funds cannot be used to pay for the medical procedure itself (SEC. 3). The goal is solely to lower the logistical barriers, which have become enormous since 2022, when travel times for care jumped by over four hours on average for those in restricted states (SEC. 2).

Priority for Restricted States

This isn't a free-for-all grant program. The Secretary of the Treasury is instructed to give priority to organizations that are already helping people who live where abortion is banned or heavily restricted, or groups serving people who have to travel out of their home area (SEC. 3). This aims to get the money directly to the groups on the ground who are already scrambling to meet demand, which has surged 56% since 2023. These eligible groups can also use up to 15% of the grant money for their own operational costs, like staffing and outreach, acknowledging that running these support systems takes administrative bandwidth (SEC. 3).

Federal Power vs. State Laws

One of the most significant parts of this bill is tucked away in the section on federal power. It states clearly that this federal program overrides any state, tribal, territorial, or local law that tries to stop the funds from being used for the purposes outlined here (SEC. 3). This is a direct challenge to states that might try to pass laws prohibiting organizations from funding out-of-state travel for abortion care. Furthermore, federal agencies running this program are explicitly forbidden from cooperating with any state or local investigation, prosecution, or lawsuit aimed against abortion providers or recipients related to the activities funded by these grants (SEC. 3). This provision sets up a clear federal shield for the organizations receiving the grants, potentially leading to court challenges over states' rights to regulate activities within their borders.

Who Gets Left Out

The bill is very specific about who can apply: only non-profit, community-based organizations that provide unbiased, medically accurate information and services. The law explicitly excludes any entity that tries to discourage people from getting an abortion (SEC. 3). This means crisis pregnancy centers and similar organizations are not eligible for this funding. The findings section highlights that the increased travel burden disproportionately affects already marginalized groups—including Black people, people of color, those in rural areas, and low-income individuals—making the priority system designed to mitigate those systemic inequalities (SEC. 2).