New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed an government order Wednesday committing $10 million to construct a brand new reproductive well being care clinic close to the state’s border with Texas.
The long run clinic is ready to be positioned in Doña Ana County, simply northwest of El Paso, Texas, and can supply “the complete spectrum of reproductive well being care” – together with abortion.
“As extra states transfer to limit and prohibit entry to reproductive care, New Mexico will proceed to not solely defend entry to abortion, however to broaden and strengthen reproductive well being care all through the state,” Lujan Grisham mentioned in a press release. “In the present day, I reaffirm my resolve to be sure that girls and households in New Mexico – and past – are supported at each step of the way in which.”
Along with abortion, the clinic will present common preventative care and different being pregnant companies.
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In a livestreamed information convention to signal the order, the governor famous that New Mexico has already seen an inflow of individuals searching for abortions within the wake of the U.S. Supreme Courtroom’s June determination to overturn Roe v. Wade – as abortions have ceased in neighboring Texas and different states with “set off” bans.
In June, Lujan Grisham signed an government order barring state businesses or their staff from helping legal investigations by different states into suppliers or sufferers associated to abortion companies in New Mexico.
Final 12 months, state lawmakers repealed a dormant 1969 statute that outlawed most abortion procedures as felonies, guaranteeing entry to abortion after the Supreme Courtroom’s June ruling.
Lujan Grisham’s Wednesday transfer comes simply 10 weeks earlier than the Nov. 8 election, when the Democrat will face her Republican challenger Mark Ronchetti. The GOP candidate advocates limiting authorized abortion to fifteen weeks or circumstances of rape, incest and the place a mom’s life is in jeopardy.
“Utilizing taxpayer {dollars} to allow and fund abortion up till the purpose of start shouldn’t be solely out of line with New Mexican values, it’s excessive,” Ronchetti mentioned in a press release after Wednesday’s government order.
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The Doña Ana clinic announcement was a part of an government order the governor offered alongside a number of state legislators and the New Mexico Fee on the Standing of Girls.
The governor’s order additionally directs the state well being division to develop plans for increasing reproductive well being care entry in underserved areas of New Mexico, work in direction of making abortion treatment obtainable in public clinics and cut back wait instances throughout the state.
Supporters hope that the plan brings much-needed assets to traditionally underserved areas of the state – particularly as New Mexico nonetheless struggles with inadequate medical services and suppliers for its inhabitants, significantly in southern area’s distant and rural places.
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“The southern a part of New Mexico has lacked entry to the complete spectrum of reproductive healthcare for generations. Directing cash to assist our southern New Mexico households is vital for affected person care,” Kayla Herring, director of public affairs for Deliberate Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains, mentioned in a press release.
“Our governor is a public well being champion who understands that abortion care is well being care,” mentioned state Rep. Joanne Ferrary. “We need to thank her for allocating cash to southern New Mexico, which has nice want for these companies.”
Lujan Grisham’s $10 million dedication will come from her government capital allocation funds. The discretionary funds will come from appropriations throughout New Mexico’s 2023 legislative session which is able to open Jan. 17. As of Wednesday, the governor mentioned no location or fiscal agent to deal with the funds had been chosen for the clinic but.
Algernon D’Ammassa is a reporter for the Las Cruces Solar-Information, a part of the USA TODAY Community.
Contributing: The Related Press
