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Reproductive Health Care Accessibility Act

USA119th CongressS-4540| Senate 
| Updated: 5/14/2026
Patty Murray

Patty Murray

Democratic Senator

Washington

Cosponsors (19)
Mazie K. Hirono (Democratic)Angela D. Alsobrooks (Democratic)Tammy Duckworth (Democratic)Margaret Wood Hassan (Democratic)Adam B. Schiff (Democratic)Edward J. Markey (Democratic)Kirsten E. Gillibrand (Democratic)Elizabeth Warren (Democratic)Alex Padilla (Democratic)Sheldon Whitehouse (Democratic)Martin Heinrich (Democratic)John Fetterman (Democratic)Tina Smith (Democratic)Bernard Sanders (Independent)Cory A. Booker (Democratic)Peter Welch (Democratic)Jeff Merkley (Democratic)Ron Wyden (Democratic)Richard Blumenthal (Democratic)

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
The "Reproductive Health Care Accessibility Act" seeks to address significant barriers faced by individuals with disabilities in accessing equitable sexual and reproductive health care. Findings indicate that disabled individuals encounter challenges such as inaccessible facilities, lack of trained providers, harmful stereotypes, and disproportionate harm from restrictive health care laws. These issues contribute to higher rates of adverse health outcomes, including maternal mortality and reproductive cancers. To tackle these problems, the bill establishes a program to award grants for training health care professionals on providing equitable and culturally competent sexual and reproductive health care for individuals with disabilities. This training will cover comprehensive disability clinical care, the impact of discrimination, legal rights, and evidence-based practices, emphasizing self-determination and choice. Eligible entities include multidisciplinary providers, universities, disability-led organizations, and Tribal entities. Furthermore, the legislation creates two distinct programs aimed at expanding the reproductive health care workforce by increasing the representation of individuals with disabilities. Grants will be provided to health and educational institutions to recruit, educate, and support disabled students pursuing careers in sexual and reproductive health, including nursing. These programs will develop competitive applicant pools, offer academic support and mentorship, and facilitate research on health issues affecting disabled individuals. The bill also authorizes grants for education programs focused on the sexual and reproductive health needs of individuals with disabilities, including youth. These programs will provide evidence-based information on topics like abortion care options and legal rights, delivered in culturally and linguistically accessible formats. A National Technical Assistance Center will be established to offer recommendations and technical assistance to states, tribes, and health care providers on improving service coordination and compliance with accessibility laws. Finally, the Secretary of Health and Human Services is directed to conduct a comprehensive research study to identify effective programs, analyze federal and state partnerships, and pinpoint necessary interagency agreements to overcome barriers in reproductive health care for individuals with disabilities. The bill authorizes significant appropriations for these initiatives, totaling $10 million or $15 million annually for each program from fiscal years 2027 through 2031, to supplement existing funds.
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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 117-4764
Reproductive Health Care Accessibility Act

Bill from Previous Congress

S 118-2544
Reproductive Health Care Accessibility Act
May 14, 2026

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 119-8829
Introduced in House
May 14, 2026
Introduced in Senate
May 14, 2026
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 117-4764
    Reproductive Health Care Accessibility Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 118-2544
    Reproductive Health Care Accessibility Act


  • May 14, 2026

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 119-8829
    Introduced in House


  • May 14, 2026
    Introduced in Senate


  • May 14, 2026
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Health

Related Bills

  • HR 119-8829: Reproductive Health Care Accessibility Act

Reproductive Health Care Accessibility Act

USA119th CongressS-4540| Senate 
| Updated: 5/14/2026
The "Reproductive Health Care Accessibility Act" seeks to address significant barriers faced by individuals with disabilities in accessing equitable sexual and reproductive health care. Findings indicate that disabled individuals encounter challenges such as inaccessible facilities, lack of trained providers, harmful stereotypes, and disproportionate harm from restrictive health care laws. These issues contribute to higher rates of adverse health outcomes, including maternal mortality and reproductive cancers. To tackle these problems, the bill establishes a program to award grants for training health care professionals on providing equitable and culturally competent sexual and reproductive health care for individuals with disabilities. This training will cover comprehensive disability clinical care, the impact of discrimination, legal rights, and evidence-based practices, emphasizing self-determination and choice. Eligible entities include multidisciplinary providers, universities, disability-led organizations, and Tribal entities. Furthermore, the legislation creates two distinct programs aimed at expanding the reproductive health care workforce by increasing the representation of individuals with disabilities. Grants will be provided to health and educational institutions to recruit, educate, and support disabled students pursuing careers in sexual and reproductive health, including nursing. These programs will develop competitive applicant pools, offer academic support and mentorship, and facilitate research on health issues affecting disabled individuals. The bill also authorizes grants for education programs focused on the sexual and reproductive health needs of individuals with disabilities, including youth. These programs will provide evidence-based information on topics like abortion care options and legal rights, delivered in culturally and linguistically accessible formats. A National Technical Assistance Center will be established to offer recommendations and technical assistance to states, tribes, and health care providers on improving service coordination and compliance with accessibility laws. Finally, the Secretary of Health and Human Services is directed to conduct a comprehensive research study to identify effective programs, analyze federal and state partnerships, and pinpoint necessary interagency agreements to overcome barriers in reproductive health care for individuals with disabilities. The bill authorizes significant appropriations for these initiatives, totaling $10 million or $15 million annually for each program from fiscal years 2027 through 2031, to supplement existing funds.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 117-4764
Reproductive Health Care Accessibility Act

Bill from Previous Congress

S 118-2544
Reproductive Health Care Accessibility Act
May 14, 2026

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 119-8829
Introduced in House
May 14, 2026
Introduced in Senate
May 14, 2026
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 117-4764
    Reproductive Health Care Accessibility Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 118-2544
    Reproductive Health Care Accessibility Act


  • May 14, 2026

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 119-8829
    Introduced in House


  • May 14, 2026
    Introduced in Senate


  • May 14, 2026
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Patty Murray

Patty Murray

Democratic Senator

Washington

Cosponsors (19)
Mazie K. Hirono (Democratic)Angela D. Alsobrooks (Democratic)Tammy Duckworth (Democratic)Margaret Wood Hassan (Democratic)Adam B. Schiff (Democratic)Edward J. Markey (Democratic)Kirsten E. Gillibrand (Democratic)Elizabeth Warren (Democratic)Alex Padilla (Democratic)Sheldon Whitehouse (Democratic)Martin Heinrich (Democratic)John Fetterman (Democratic)Tina Smith (Democratic)Bernard Sanders (Independent)Cory A. Booker (Democratic)Peter Welch (Democratic)Jeff Merkley (Democratic)Ron Wyden (Democratic)Richard Blumenthal (Democratic)

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

Health

Related Bills

  • HR 119-8829: Reproductive Health Care Accessibility Act
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted