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DOL Rewrites Disability Rules for 'Merit-Based Opportunity' Push
RuleLabor DepartmentFederal Contract Compliance Programs OfficeSignificant Wallet
S4540119th CongressWALLET
Reproductive Health Care Accessibility Act
Sponsored By: Senator Murray, Patty [D-WA]
Introduced
Summary
Improve sexual and reproductive health care for people with disabilities. This bill would create training and education programs, expand the reproductive health and nursing workforce, and fund technical assistance and research to make care more accessible and culturally and linguistically competent.
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- Individuals with disabilities and families: Would get more disability‑tailored sexual and reproductive health education and clinical care, including information on abortion care and rights under Federal and State law.
- Health professions students, trainees, and faculty: Would gain funded pipelines, stipends, mentorships, and faculty fellowships to recruit and retain people with disabilities in reproductive health fields. The provider and nursing workforce programs are each authorized at $15.0 million per year for FY2027–2031.
- Community clinics, Tribal organizations, and educational institutions: Would be eligible for grants to develop accessible curricula, plain‑language materials, and community‑based training. Training and education programs are each authorized at $10.0 million per year for FY2027–2031, and a National Technical Assistance Center plus a research study receive separate unspecified appropriations.
*Authorizes about $50.0 million per year for FY2027–2031 across the named programs, plus additional unspecified appropriations for a technical assistance center and a research study.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
7 provisions identified: 7 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
National center to improve access
The bill would direct HHS, through the Administration for Community Living, to create a National Technical Assistance Center. The center would give states, tribes, and providers best practices and technical help to make reproductive and related care accessible. It would make resources for accessible medical equipment and coordination across services. The center would get $10 million each year from FY2027 through FY2031.
Accessible reproductive health education
The bill would fund HRSA grants for culturally and linguistically accessible sexual and reproductive health education for people with disabilities, including youth. Grants could develop plain-language materials, teach about abortion care options and legal rights, and link to disability-affirming clinical resources. Awardees must evaluate and report; HHS would compile and post reports in accessible formats. The program would get $10 million each year from FY2027 through FY2031.
Grants to expand nursing careers
The bill would add authority for HRSA to award grants to help people with disabilities train as reproductive health nurses. Grants could support nursing pipelines, nurse-managed clinics, mentorship, faculty development, clinical experiences, and stipends that preserve Federal and State benefits. The Secretary would prioritize multi-partner programs and align with other HRSA training programs. The program would get $15 million each year from FY2027 through FY2031, and awardees must report within 180 days after awards end.
Grants to train disabled providers
The bill would create an HRSA grant program to help people with disabilities enter sexual and reproductive health careers, including abortion and maternal health care. Grants could fund applicant pipelines, mentorship, curriculum, research, and stipends. Stipends and supports would have to be structured so they do not cause loss of Federal or State benefits. The program would get $15 million each year from FY2027 through FY2031, and the Secretary must report to Congress within 180 days after each award ends.
Training clinicians on disability care
The bill would fund HRSA grants for training health professionals on equitable reproductive care for people with disabilities. Training must cover clinical care, discrimination and access barriers, language and format accessibility, rights under law, and evidence-based practices. Grants may be subawarded and awardees must evaluate outcomes and report within 180 days after award end. The program would get $10 million each year from FY2027 through FY2031.
Clear definitions for program rules
The bill would set statutory definitions used across the new programs. "Disability" would use the meaning in the Americans with Disabilities Act. Tribal terms would use existing federal definitions. These definitions would affect who can apply and how programs are run.
Federal study on care for disabled
The bill would require HHS, with the Administration for Community Living, to study which programs best provide sexual and reproductive health care for people with disabilities. The study would analyze cross-government partnerships and needed data agreements. HHS must report to specified congressional committees within three years of enactment. The study is authorized at $15 million for fiscal year 2027.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Murray, Patty [D-WA]
WA • D
Cosponsors
Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL]
IL • D
Sponsored 5/14/2026
Sen. Alsobrooks, Angela D. [D-MD]
MD • D
Sponsored 5/14/2026
Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
CT • D
Sponsored 5/14/2026
Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]
NJ • D
Sponsored 5/14/2026
Sen. Fetterman, John [D-PA]
PA • D
Sponsored 5/14/2026
Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]
NY • D
Sponsored 5/14/2026
Sen. Hassan, Margaret Wood [D-NH]
NH • D
Sponsored 5/14/2026
Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI]
HI • D
Sponsored 5/14/2026
Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]
MA • D
Sponsored 5/14/2026
Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
OR • D
Sponsored 5/14/2026
Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA]
CA • D
Sponsored 5/14/2026
Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT]
VT • I
Sponsored 5/14/2026
Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA]
CA • D
Sponsored 5/14/2026
Sen. Smith, Tina [D-MN]
MN • D
Sponsored 5/14/2026
Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA]
MA • D
Sponsored 5/14/2026
Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT]
VT • D
Sponsored 5/14/2026
Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]
RI • D
Sponsored 5/14/2026
Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
OR • D
Sponsored 5/14/2026
Sen. Heinrich, Martin [D-NM]
NM • D
Sponsored 5/18/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov