Reproductive Health Services Training Grant Program

Published on May 9th, 2023

Memorandum of Opposition

Re: A3279-A Epstein
Establishes a reproductive health services training grant program

The above-referenced legislation would establish a reproductive health services training and education grant program to train providers, interns, and residents in the performance of abortion, and establish an abortion training and education fund. The New York State Catholic Conference opposes this tiresome, pandering bill for the stunt that it is.

Since the overturning of Roe v. Wade, and despite New York allowing abortion on-demand and for any reason, the legislature has made seemingly daily attempts to promote and expand it further. This bill, like so many before it, seeks to do so on the taxpayer’s dime. As the sponsor’s memo makes clear, this grant program is designed to lure out-of-state providers to New York. It’s insulting to suggest that New Yorkers fund abortion training for them.

It is shocking that in a time when so many are struggling, New York responds by proposing countless funds, grant programs, tax credits, and other incentives encouraging women from across the country to abort their babies. The message is clear: anyone who is struggling will be met not with hope and assistance, but with an invitation to terminate their unborn child. This disturbing response, presented as altruism, is a slap in the face to every good person that’s expected to pay for it. We urge you to reject this legislation.