,,ii #aahth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #bdci ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,july #bj1 #bjbc,ms4 ,cortez ,masto 7for herself1 ,mrs4 ,murray1 ,ms4 ,klobuchar1 ,ms4 ,smith1 ,ms4 ,warren1 ,ms4 ,hirono1 ,mr4 ,padilla1 ,mr4 ,bennet1 ,mr4 ,blumenthal1 ,mr4 ,welch1 and ,ms4 ,duckworth7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions ,a ,,bill ,to establish a grant program to fund reproductive health patient navigators for individuals seeking abortion services4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,reproductive ,health ,patient ,navigator ,act of #bjbc4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds as follows3 7#a7 ,as the legal hurdles to abortion services increase1 so does the complexity of navigating access to these essential reproductive health services4 7#b7 ,community-based organizations like abortion funds are connecting people to abortions1 by working with individuals to navigate an ever-evolving landscape of reproductive health care4 7#c7 ,abortion funds have been helping individuals navigate the complexity of abortion services for decades and are well placed to lead patient navigation programs4 #c4 ,establishment of grant program for reproductive health patient navigators ,subpart ,v of part ,d of title ,,iii of the ,public ,health ,service ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #bef et seq47 is amended by adding at the end the following3 #cdj;,a-#a4 ,establishment of grant program for reproductive health patient navigators 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall establish a grant program to support eligible entities for purposes of serving as reproductive health patient navigators for individuals seeking to access abortion services in order to connect those individuals to abortion services4 7b7 ,eligible entities ,to be eligible to receive a grant under this section1 an entity shall-- 7#a7 be an abortion fund or other nonprofit organization1 a community-based organization1 a ,state1 local governmental entity1 or ,tribal government that1 through programs1 services1 or activities that are unbiased and medically- and factually-accurate1 assists individuals seeking abortion services2 and 7#b7 submit an application to the ,secretary1 at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information as the ,secretary may require1 including a plan for-- 7,a7 establishing and operating a program of patient navigator services to help individuals seeking abortion services access abortion services1 as described in subsection 7c72 and 7,b7 ensuring that any personally identifiable patient data obtained through the operation of such program is kept confidential4 7c7 ,activities ,an eligible entity receiving a grant under this section shall use such funds for one or more of the following activities related to abortion services3 7#a7 ,offering individuals seeking abortion services medically-accurate1 culturally- and linguistically-appropriate services and resources4 7#b7 ,coordinating financing resources for travel-related costs1 including transportation1 childcare1 and lodging4 7#c7 ,coordinating abortion services1 including identifying available abortion providers and scheduling appointments4 7#d7 ,providing emotional wellness and doula support to individuals accessing abortion services4 7#e7 ,providing individuals seeking abortion services with unbiased and medically and factually accurate reproductive health information to support individuals' informed decision making4 7#f7 ,developing partnerships with local community organizations providing services for which eligible entity provides assistance1 abortion service providers1 and other patient navigators1 such as patient navigators receiving grants under section #cdj;,a4 7#g7 ,assisting with understanding reimbursement and health insurance coverage options1 including completing eligibility and enrollment forms4 7#h7 ,assisting with understanding where abortion services are legal and the ways in which abortion services may be restricted4 7d7 ,patient navigator protections 7#a7 ,in general ,no individual1 entity1 or ,state may prevent1 restrict1 impede1 or disadvantage an entity eligible to receive a grant under this section by nature of delivering services described in subsection 7c71 or any affiliate of such an entity or individual or other entity collaborating with such an entity1 from-- 7,a7 providing or assisting a health care provider1 or any other person1 with eligible services described in subsection 7c7 related to reproductive health care services-- 7i7 lawful in the ,state in which services are to be provided2 or 7ii7 provided for an individual who does not reside in the ,state in which the services are to be provided2 or 7,b7 carrying out the activities described in this section in any ,state1 including any ,state in which abortion services are not lawful4 7#b7 ,enforcement 7,a7 ,attorney ,general ,the ,attorney ,general may commence a civil action on behalf of the ,united ,states against any ,state1 or against any government official1 individual1 or entity that enacts1 implements1 or enforces a limitation or requirement that violates paragraph 7#a74 ,the court shall hold unlawful and set aside the limitation or requirement if it is in violation of paragraph 7#a74 7,b7 ,private right of action ,any reproductive health patient navigator adversely affected by an alleged violation of paragraph 7#a7 may commence a civil action against any ,state that violates this subsection1 against any government official that enacts1 implements1 or enforces a limitation or requirement that violates paragraph 7#a71 or against any individual who1 pursuant to ,state law1 prevents1 restricts1 impedes1 or disadvantages the entity from carrying out activities in violation of paragraph 7#a74 ,the court shall hold unlawful and enjoin the limitation or requirement if it is in violation of paragraph 7#a74 7,c7 ,equitable relief ,in any action under this subsection1 the court may award appropriate equitable relief1 including temporary1 preliminary1 or permanent injunctive relief4 7,d7 ,costs ,in any action under this subsection1 the court shall award costs of litigation1 as well as reasonable attorney's fees1 to any prevailing plaintiff4 ,a plaintiff shall not be liable to a defendant for costs or attorney's fees in any nonfrivolous action under this subsection4 7,e7 ,jurisdiction ,the district courts of the ,united ,states shall have jurisdiction over proceedings under this subsection and shall exercise the same without regard to whether the party aggrieved shall have exhausted any administrative or other remedies that may be provided for by law4 7,f7 ,abrogation of ,state immunity ,neither a ,state that enforces or maintains1 nor a government official who is permitted to implement or enforce1 any limitation or requirement that violates paragraph 7#a7 shall be immune under the ,tenth ,amendment to the ,constitution of the ,united ,states1 the ,eleventh ,amendment to the ,constitution of the ,united ,states1 or any other source of law1 from an action in a ,federal or ,state court of competent jurisdiction challenging that limitation or requirement4 7,g7 ,right to remove ,any party shall have a right to remove an action brought under this subsection to the district court of the ,united ,states for the district and division embracing the place where such action is pending4 ,an order remanding the case to the ,state court from which it was removed under this paragraph may be immediately reviewable by appeal or otherwise4 7e7 ,funding ,there are appropriated1 for fiscal years #bjbc through #bjbg1 out of amounts in the ,treasury not otherwise appropriated1 such sums as may be necessary for purposes of carrying out this section4 4