SAN ANTONIO – The San Antonio City Council approved $100,000 be allocated to the “Reproductive Justice Fund” in a 6-5 vote on Thursday.
The fund supports a range of services for women, provides access to healthy pregnancy classes, free contraception, sex education, STI testing, and prenatal care. The latest procurement will support downstream reproductive and sexual healthcare services, which could include travel assistance to help women seeking out-of-state abortions, as Texas’ stringent anti-abortion laws remain in effect.
This follows a $500,000 allocation approved last year for the controversial program.
RELATED: Lawsuit filed to stop city from spending $500,000 on abortion travel
Since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, abortion access in Texas has been severely restricted, with the only exception being when the mother’s life is at risk.
The fund has been met with plenty of controversy and lawsuits, which the city has spent loads of money defending.
Back in 2023, Mayor Ron Nirenberg was very supportive of the city council’s decision to approve the fund.
“Women’s health care is under attack and I think that the city council responded in an appropriate way,” said Nirenberg. “It is unfortunate taxpayer funds will be spent on defending against this lawsuit based on misinformation and false allegations.
Several residents spoke in favor and against the resolution. Councilmembers discussed the topic, with some raising concerns about the chance the city could be sued for passing the resolution.
“The fight for reproductive healthcare is a fight for women’s lives. I have one job on the City Council: to protect the people represented—my hometown. This fund does just that. With Texas leading the nation in poor maternal health outcomes—seeing a 56% increase in maternal deaths from 2019 to 2022—there is an urgent need for action in the face of restrictive state policies that have left families in crisis. We’re watching the consequences of the state’s abortion bans unfold in real-time, and what we’re seeing is a public health crisis. Families in our city are being forced into impossible situations, and the state has failed to prioritize their needs. This fund is how San Antonio is stepping up. Some might ask, ‘Is this really the City’s responsibility?’ The answer is simple: yes. Local government exists to protect the health and safety of its residents. If we can allocate funding for mental health, vaccinations, and nursing care, then we can allocate funding for reproductive healthcare. One is not more important or more valid than another,” said Councilmember Melissa Cabello Havrda in a statement.
link
