Bill would limit federal relocations to states with abortion restrictions

Key Points

• New legislation introduced: James Walkinshaw and 26 House Democrats introduced the Federal Workforce Reproductive Rights Protection Act.
• Purpose of the bill: Protect federal employees’ access to reproductive health care following the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision that overturned Roe v. Wade.
• Agency relocation restrictions: Federal agencies would be prohibited from:
  • Moving headquarters or at least 5% of employees to states that enacted or reinstated abortion restrictions within the past four years.
  • Purchasing or leasing new property in those states, with limited exceptions for existing leases and certain public-serving facilities.
• Employee protections:
  • Federal workers could decline relocations, reassignments, or temporary details to states with abortion restrictions.
  • Agencies could not require employees or applicants to live in or move to those states as a condition of employment or promotion.
  • The federal government would be prohibited from asking abortion-related questions during security clearance investigations.
  • Employees and applicants would be protected from retaliation for using these rights.
• Travel benefits: Federal employees living in states with abortion restrictions would be eligible for:
  • Paid administrative leave.
  • Transportation assistance to travel to another state for reproductive health care.
• Supporters’ rationale: Rep. Walkinshaw said federal employees should not have to choose between their careers and access to legal reproductive health care, arguing the bill protects workers’ health, privacy, and employment opportunities.

Read the whole article here: Bill would limit federal relocations to states with abortion restrictions – Government Executive