Planned Parenthood Action Fund (PPAF) works to ensure all people have equitable access to quality, affordable sexual and reproductive health care no matter their background or location. This includes protecting the ability of 600 Planned Parenthood health centers to serve economically and medically underserved patients across the United States. Those health centers see every day the devastating impact to the workforce and consumers from legislative attacks on reproductive health care access and bodily autonomy.

Since Texas’ six-week abortion ban took effect in September 2021, and after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June 2022, more harmful state bans and restrictions have been imposed by policymakers. Today, 21 states have bans or restrictions on reproductive health services, bans created by legislators supported by corporate political donations. Yet companies may not be aware they are undermining the health, productivity and sustainability of their employees, communities and businesses.

PPAF, working with the Tara Health Foundation, submitted a shareholder proposal at a leading national retail brand asking for clarity on how it ensures that the strategic needs of the organization, alongside its organizational values, are embedded in its political giving. The majority of this company's employees are BIPOC and women. The company has clearly stated commitments to inclusive, sustainable business practices. By asking the company to identify incongruencies and its plans to address them, we seek to minimize values misalignment, reputation and brand risk, and to ensure government affairs expenditures are being monitored for effectiveness.

At PPAF, we are attentive to reproductive health issues. We were aware that this company is a significant corporate donor, supporting a wide range of political actors. However, it has not detailed how it discerns when these political actors are introducing legislation or voting against the needs and values of the company.

Health care bans harm companies and their employees. They have resulted in severe health challenges for pregnant people, those suffering miscarriage or those who want timely reproductive care. One in four women will have an abortion in their lifetime; 59 percent are parents. Texas’ abortion ban criminalizing parents seeking care led to a 10 percent spike in infant mortality rates. Pregnant women in states with abortion bans are up to three times more at risk of death. Black women are three times more likely than white women to die from pregnancy related risks, and comprise 40 percent of abortion patients annually.

Research proves reproductive health care bans and restrictions prevent workers from living and participating equally in the workforce, also affecting their families and the next generation of workers and consumers. The operational, managerial, human capital, brand and material risks facing companies operating in states with reproductive health care bans and restrictions present a threat to businesses and investors. At Planned Parenthood Action Fund, we recognize how ideological legislation that criminalizes and undermines access to reproductive health care can create severe inequalities for health and well-being, economic livelihood opportunities and productivity. Our hope is that more companies will proactively address their values misalignment and assess these material risks, avoiding these risks by improving policies and reporting around their political expenditures.

Nadia Khamis
Director of Corporate Engagement, Planned Parenthood Action Fund