Texas Abortion Law: Uncovering Corporate Co-Sponsors

In 2021, Texas passed a law banning abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, before many women even know they are pregnant. The law, Senate Bill 8, also known as the heart rate bill, prohibits abortions outright, except in certain circumstances, such as when the life or health of the pregnant patient is at risk. The law has been supported by several large companies, including AT&T, Comcast/NBCUniversal, CVS Health, UnitedHealth Group, and Farmers Insurance. These companies have donated significant amounts of money to the primary co-sponsors of the bill, despite many of them publicly championing women's rights and equality. The response to the law from corporations has been mixed, with some remaining silent, some speaking out against it, and others providing financial support to those affected by the law.

AT&T donated $301,000 to sponsors of Texas' abortion ban

AT&T has donated $301,000 to the sponsors of Texas' abortion ban, also known as Senate Bill 8 (SB 8). This financial support has been provided to the politicians behind the law, which prohibits all abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, a time before which many women do not know they are pregnant. The bill came into effect on September 1, 2021, after the Supreme Court voted 5-4 to deny an emergency appeal from abortion rights advocates.

AT&T's substantial donation to the sponsors of SB 8 is notable because of the company's public stance on women's rights and equality. In its 2020 Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion Report, AT&T CEO John Stankey stated that "gender equity and the empowerment of women" was one of the company's "core values." Additionally, on August 26, just days before SB 8 came into effect, AT&T celebrated "Women's Equality Day," emphasizing its belief that "empowered women are key to the success of their communities."

The company's financial support for politicians who sponsored the Texas abortion ban stands in contrast to its previous outspoken opposition to extreme abortion bans. In 2019, when Georgia enacted a similar law banning abortions after six weeks, an AT&T subsidiary, WarnerMedia, stated that if the law was upheld, they would "reconsider Georgia as the home to any new productions."

AT&T is not the only corporation that has donated significant amounts to the sponsors of Texas' abortion ban. Popular Information, a newsletter, has identified several other companies, including Comcast/NBCUniversal ($58,250 since 2018), CVS Health ($72,500), UnitedHealth Group ($90,000 since 2018), Anthem ($87,250 since 2018), Charter Communications ($313,000), Farmers Insurance ($120,000), and General Motors ($72,750).

The donations by these corporations, particularly those that publicly champion women's rights, have sparked discussions and criticism regarding the alignment of their financial contributions with their stated values.

Comcast/NBCUniversal donated $58,250 to sponsors of Texas' abortion ban

Comcast/NBCUniversal, a company that has long championed women's rights and empowerment, has donated $58,250 to the sponsors of Texas' abortion ban, also known as SB8. This is despite the company's previous suggestion that it would not produce content in states enacting abortion bans, with a spokesperson stating in 2019 that:

> "If any of these laws are upheld, it would strongly impact our decision-making on where we produce our content in the future."

The company has also been a vocal supporter of women's equality and empowerment, with NBCUniversal announcing a year-long advertising campaign in 2020 that would "inspire audiences to continue to advance women in society overall".

Comcast/NBCUniversal is not the only corporation that has donated significant sums to the sponsors of Texas' abortion ban. AT&T, for example, has donated $301,000 to the sponsors of SB8 since 2018. This is despite AT&T CEO John Stankey stating in the company's 2020 Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Report that one of the company's "core values" was "gender equity and the empowerment of women".

Other major corporate donors include CVS Health ($72,500), UnitedHealth Group ($90,000), Anthem ($87,250), Charter Communications ($313,000), Farmers Insurance ($120,000), General Motors ($72,750), and State Farm ($58,250).

The largest donor to the sponsors of Texas' abortion ban is Texans for Lawsuit Reform, a conservative political organisation that has donated nearly $2.3 million to the legislation.

The Texas abortion ban, which prohibits all abortions after six weeks and includes no exceptions for rape or incest, has been met with serious backlash worldwide. It represents a significant regression for women's access to healthcare and the exercise of their human rights, and also has far-reaching legal implications by challenging the notion of what a court is for and emboldening civilians to enforce the law.

CVS Health donated $72,500 to sponsors of Texas' abortion ban

CVS Health, the US pharmacy and health services company, donated $72,500 to the sponsors of Texas' abortion ban, also known as Senate Bill 8 or the "heart rate bill". This bill prohibits all abortions in the state of Texas if medical professionals can detect a fetal heartbeat, which can occur after just six weeks, before most women know they are pregnant. There are no exceptions for rape or incest.

CVS Health's donation was revealed by Popular Information, a newsletter that details companies that donate to politicians backing certain causes. CVS Health is not the only corporation that has donated significant amounts to the sponsors of SB8. AT&T, Comcast/NBCUniversal, UnitedHealth Group, Anthem, Charter Communications, Farmers Insurance, General Motors, and State Farm have also contributed financially.

In response to the revelation, a CVS Health spokesperson said:

> Past political contributions are by no means a blanket endorsement of an individual's position on every issue, nor are they an indication of where we'll direct our future support.

However, this statement has been met with criticism. The Womxn Project, for example, launched a campaign asking supporters of abortion rights to boycott CVS and pressure the company to stop donating to anti-abortion lawmakers. The organisation's director, Jocelyn Foye, stated:

> We do not need or want and nor will we accept corporations in our community funneling money to legislation that tries to undermine our bodily autonomy and criminalize abortion care. Senate Bill 8 is out of step with our values. We won’t stand by as the people who pushed this horrific bill get money from big business in our own backyard to keep up their anti-women, anti-justice agenda.

The controversy surrounding CVS Health's donation to the sponsors of Texas' abortion ban highlights the complex nature of corporate political contributions and their potential impact on social issues.

UnitedHealth Group donated $90,000 to sponsors of Texas' abortion ban

UnitedHealth Group donated $90,000 to the sponsors of Texas' abortion ban, also known as Senate Bill 8. This donation was made since 2018 and the company has declined to comment on its stance on the abortion law.

UnitedHealth Group is not alone in its support of the controversial bill. Several other companies have also been identified as donors to the lawmakers who co-sponsored the bill, including AT&T, Comcast/NBCUniversal, CVS Health, Anthem, Charter Communications, Farmers Insurance, General Motors, and State Farm.

Senate Bill 8, also referred to as the "heart rate bill," prohibits all abortions in the state of Texas if a fetal heartbeat is detected. This can occur as early as six weeks into a pregnancy, before most women are even aware that they are pregnant. The bill includes no exceptions for cases of rape or incest.

The bill came into effect on September 1, 2021, after the Supreme Court voted 5-4 to deny an emergency appeal brought by abortion rights advocates to block its enforcement. This decision sparked widespread protests and debates across the nation, with many people and organizations speaking out against the bill and its implications for women's rights and reproductive freedom.

UnitedHealth Group, along with other companies that donated to the bill's sponsors, have faced scrutiny and criticism for their financial support of lawmakers who are actively restricting abortion access. These companies have been called out for their contradictory actions, as some of them have previously positioned themselves as champions of women's empowerment and equality.

The financial contributions of these companies have had a significant impact on electing the lawmakers who sponsored the bill and shaping the political landscape surrounding reproductive rights. With their donations, these companies have indirectly influenced the passage and enforcement of Texas' abortion ban, contributing to the ongoing debate and division over abortion rights in the United States.

Charter Communications donated $313,000 to sponsors of Texas' abortion ban

Charter Communications Inc. has been identified as one of the companies that donated to the lawmakers who co-sponsored Texas' restrictive abortion law. The company donated $313,000 to the sponsors of the bill, also known as the "heart rate bill" or Senate Bill 8. This bill prohibits all abortions in the state of Texas if a fetal heartbeat is detected, which can occur as early as six weeks into a pregnancy, before most women are aware that they are pregnant. There are no exceptions made for cases of rape or incest.

The bill came into effect on September 1, 2021, after the Supreme Court voted 5-4 to deny an emergency appeal brought by abortion rights advocates to block its enforcement. The bill also allows anyone to sue anyone who helps a woman obtain an abortion in Texas and receive a $10,000 bounty.

Several other companies have also been identified as donors to the sponsors of the Texas abortion bill, including AT&T, Comcast/NBCUniversal, CVS Health, UnitedHealth Group, Farmers Insurance, and General Motors. These companies have been criticised for their support of the bill, particularly in light of their public statements celebrating women's equality and empowerment.

In response to the bill and the corporate donations, women's rights organisation UltraViolet compiled a list of companies that donated over $100,000 to the sponsors, which included Charter Communications.

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