Councilmember Cabello Havrda Applauds Reproductive Justice Fund

Published on April 03, 2025

Councilmember Cabello Havrda Applauds Approval of Reproductive Justice Fund: “Protecting Reproductive Justice is Protecting Lives”

SAN ANTONIO (April 3, 2025) – Today, the San Antonio City Council took a historic step in protecting the health and safety of its residents by approving a $100,000 fund to provide travel for out-of-state abortion services. Councilmember Melissa Cabello Havrda issued the following statement in support of the vote:

“The fight for reproductive healthcare is a fight for women’s lives. I have one job on the City Council: to protect the people represented—my hometown. This fund does just that.

“With Texas leading the nation in poor maternal health outcomes—seeing a 56% increase in maternal deaths from 2019 to 2022—there is an urgent need for action in the face of restrictive state policies that have left families in crisis.

“We’re watching the consequences of the state’s abortion bans unfold in real-time, and what we’re seeing is a public health crisis. Families in our city are being forced into impossible situations, and the state has failed to prioritize their needs. This fund is how San Antonio is stepping up.

“Some might ask, ‘Is this really the City’s responsibility?’ The answer is simple: yes. Local government exists to protect the health and safety of its residents. If we can allocate funding for mental health, vaccinations, and nursing care, then we can allocate funding for reproductive healthcare. One is not more important or more valid than another.

Although the fund accounts for just 0.014% of the city’s budget, it will have a significant impact by helping residents overcome barriers to essential healthcare. This investment will not only improve public health but also strengthen financial stability and public safety. Without access to healthcare, individuals are more likely to experience poverty, economic hardship, and a greater risk of intimate partner violence—challenges that disproportionately affect communities in Districts 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.