Amid Concerns about Federal Rollback, Cook County Commissioner Pitches More Money for Reproductive Health
Commissioner Seeks to Infuse $2 Million in Grants for Wrap-Around Reproductive Health Services
Amid concerns about the next presidential administration’s lack of support for abortion rights, Democratic Cook County Commissioner Bridget Degnen wants the county to infuse more money into access to reproductive health services.
Proposed Budget Amendment
County commissioners are set to vote on a proposed 2025 budget next week totaling nearly $10 billion. Degnen wants to amend the proposed budget to provide $2 million in grants to community organizations that provide wrap-around reproductive health services. These organizations help cover the cost of everything from hotel stays and travel to medical bills for people seeking abortions.
Support for Reproductive Health Services
“The county now will come in and be a great partner, I hope, with the city and the state saying we care about women’s reproductive freedoms,” said Degnen, who is spearheading the effort alongside Democratic Commissioner Donna Miller. “We care about the decisions that you’re going to make, and we realize that there’s a lot of terror across the country from women who believe that their rights could be further eroded.”
Impact on Abortion Rights
If approved, the county health system believes it would be the first time in recent memory that funds like this are included in the county budget. Degnen’s proposal comes as abortion rights supporters prepare for a Donald Trump presidency that could once again shake up where and how people can end a pregnancy, if they are allowed at all. Trump appointed justices to the U.S. Supreme Court that overturned Roe v Wade more than two years ago, leaving abortion access up to individual states.
Patchwork of State Bans
That led to a patchwork of state bans and other restrictions across much of the Midwest and the South, fueling a wave of people to Illinois, where abortion rights are protected. More people are traveling to Illinois than to any other state to end a pregnancy, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a pro-abortion rights health policy and research organization.
Grants for Reproductive Health Services
Putting Cook County money toward reproductive health services grants could help organizations like the Chicago Abortion Fund, which is one of the largest of its kind in the country and is struggling to keep up with an avalanche of costs. “I can’t even tell you how emotional I was when we found out that this effort was going on, just because of the ways that this crisis has been weighing, I think, on all of us across the country,” said Alicia Hurtado, movement building director at the Chicago Abortion Fund.
Support from Governor and County Board President
Democratic Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker has been an especially outspoken supporter of abortion rights. The state has helped the Chicago Abortion Fund cover out-of-state patients’ travel and stays here, for example, and helped create a program that helps coordinate hospital-based abortions for patients with complex medical needs. County Board President Toni Preckwinkle has also expressed support for Degnen’s proposed amendment.
Conclusion
Degnen emphasized that Cook County has one of the biggest public health systems in the nation, with a legacy and mission to treat people no matter if they can pay. The health system provides abortions. If approved, the proposed amendment would provide a crucial source of funding for reproductive health services, helping to ensure that women in Cook County have access to the care they need.
FAQs
Q: What is the proposed budget amendment?
A: The proposed budget amendment would provide $2 million in grants to community organizations that provide wrap-around reproductive health services.
Q: What kind of services would the grants cover?
A: The grants would cover a range of services, including hotel stays, travel, and medical bills for people seeking abortions.
Q: Why is this amendment important?
A: This amendment is important because it would provide a crucial source of funding for reproductive health services, helping to ensure that women in Cook County have access to the care they need.
Q: Who supports the proposed amendment?
A: The proposed amendment has the support of Commissioner Bridget Degnen, Commissioner Donna Miller, Governor JB Pritzker, and County Board President Toni Preckwinkle.
