Reps. Bera, Fletcher, Schrier, Pocan Reintroduce Legislation to Expand Reproductive Health Care Training

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Representatives Ami Bera, M.D. (CA-06), Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07), Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08), and Mark Pocan (WI-02) reintroduced the Reproductive Health Care Training Act, legislation to expand access to comprehensive reproductive health care training for medical students, residents, and advanced practice clinicians.

The reintroduction comes on the fourth anniversary of the Supreme Court's decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization. The Dobbs decision ended nearly fifty years of federal constitutional protections for abortion access. Since then, numerous states have enacted abortion bans or severe restrictions, creating new challenges for medical schools, residency programs, and health care providers seeking training in reproductive health care.

The Reproductive Health Care Training Act would establish a federal grant program for health professions schools, academic health centers, and nonprofit health care safety net providers in states where comprehensive abortion training remains available. The program would help ensure medical students, residents, and advanced practice clinicians from states with abortion restrictions can receive comprehensive, evidence-based reproductive health care training and prepare them to provide abortion care after completing their education.

"The consequences of the Dobbs decision continue to be felt across the country four years later," said Representative Ami Bera, M.D., who previously served as Chief Medical Officer for Sacramento County. "As a doctor, I strongly believe that medical decisions should be made between a patient and their doctor, not politicians. Since Dobbs, abortion bans and restrictions have created significant barriers to reproductive health care and disrupted medical education for students and providers in many states. The Reproductive Health Care Training Act is an important step toward addressing those gaps and ensuring future health care professionals can receive comprehensive, evidence-based training."

"Restrictions on access to abortion care in Texas and states like it place burdens on medical students, residents, and advanced practice clinicians, who cannot receive proper training to provide the full range of reproductive healthcare, as well as on their patients," said Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher. "It is critical that as we work to restore and protect abortion access, we also work to educate the next generation of healthcare providers on the full range of reproductive healthcare, including abortion care. For both students and educational institutions, success depends on proper and full education. I am glad to join Congressman Bera, Congresswoman Schrier, and Congressman Pocan to ensure healthcare professionals have access to training in reproductive health care."

"As the fight for reproductive care continues, it is more important than ever that medical students receive a comprehensive education to help all future patients, which includes abortion training," said Congresswoman Kim Schrier. "This legislation would expand reproductive care education regardless of where healthcare professionals train. As the only pediatrician in Congress, and as a woman and mom, I will continue to do everything I can to protect women's access to safe abortion, and physicians' ability to provide a full spectrum of care across the country."

"Because of the Dobbs decision, patients across the country are facing challenges where patients cannot get abortion care, but medical students are prevented from learning the skills they need," said Congressman Mark Pocan. "The Reproductive Health Care Training Act is crucial legislation that ensures medical students gain all necessary clinical skills, no matter where they train. Abortion is healthcare. Student doctors in every state should be able to learn to provide patients the care that is their right."

The Reproductive Health Care Training Act would authorize $25 million annually for five years to support eligible institutions that:

• Expand and strengthen reproductive health care education for medical students, residents, and advanced practice clinicians from states where abortion training is restricted.
• Prepare and encourage future health care providers to deliver comprehensive reproductive health care, including abortion care, after completing their training.

Companion legislation was reintroduced in the Senate by Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI).

The full text of the legislation is available here.