In a tight procedural vote, Senate Republicans blocked the Democrats’ bill that aimed to guarantee access to in vitro fertilization nationwide, with a final tally of 48-47 falling short of the 60 votes needed to advance the legislation. Republican Senator John Cornyn of Texas criticized the bill as unnecessary and a political maneuver, stating, “There’s not a problem. There’s no restrictions on IVF, nor should there be.”
The vote comes amid a broader effort by Senate Democrats to highlight reproductive health care issues leading up to the November elections, particularly in light of the two-year anniversary of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer condemned Republicans for opposing the bill, accusing them of being influenced by the “MAGA hard right” and linking their actions to efforts to restrict access to reproductive rights.
President Biden also expressed his disappointment in Senate Republicans, denouncing their refusal to protect access to fertility treatments and birth control. The bill in question, the Right to IVF Act, seeks to ensure individuals’ right to receive IVF treatment and expand coverage under various insurance plans, including for military service members and veterans.
This legislative push by Democrats comes in response to a ruling by Alabama’s Supreme Court earlier this year, which classified frozen embryos as children and set the stage for potential legal consequences for destroying them. Democrats argue that access to reproductive health care is under threat nationwide and are pushing for federal protections to safeguard these rights.
While Senate Republicans have introduced their own bills on IVF and contraception, efforts to pass them have faced opposition from Democrats. The GOP’s IVF Protection Act, introduced by Senators Katie Britt of Alabama and Ted Cruz of Texas, seeks to prevent states from blocking access to IVF while allowing for health and safety standards to be implemented.
As the debate over reproductive health care continues, both parties are grappling with the divisive issue ahead of the upcoming elections. Stay tuned for further developments on this issue.
