A second attempt by Democrats to pass legislation protecting access to in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and other fertility treatments was blocked by Senate Republicans.
The vote occurred as lawmakers put the fight over reproductive access front and center 49 days before the upcoming general election.
Senate Democrats led by Chuck Schumer on Tuesday forced a repeat vote on the Right to IVF Act after Republicans blocked a first attempt to pass the legislation in June.
Ahead of the vote, Republicans slammed the effort by Democrats to pass the bill that would protect and expand access to fertility treatment nationwide.
Senate Democrats led by Chuck Schumer on Tuesday forced a repeat vote on the Right to IVF Act after Republicans blocked a first attempt to pass the legislation in June
Former President Trump called on Alabama to find a solution following the ruling and said he supports the availability of IVF treatment. Democrats say the AL ruling is the direct result of the Supreme Court overturning Roe v Wade with the addition of three justices he appointed
‘Here we go again with more time-wasting show votes intended to prop up vulnerable Democrats ahead of an election,’ said Senator GOP Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith of Mississippi in a statement ahead of the procedural vote.
Smith, who chairs the Pro-Life Caucus, said she supports IVF but called the legislation flawed and blasted the vote claiming ‘a better use of time might be to consider truly critical legislation like appropriations bills or the National Defense Authorization Act.’
Democrats renewed their effort to pass the legislation as the issue has been a major focus on the campaign trail. They have long been calling for reinstating Roe v. Wade as well as protecting IVF.
Trump just weeks ago announced he wants the government to pay for or ensure insurance covers all costs associated with IVF treatment, signaling Republicans are vulnerable on the issue.
‘President Trump has said he wants to make it easier for mothers and fathers to have babies, including supporting IVF in every state,’ his campaign stated.
It’s a more progressive line on IVF that has some Republican divided on it ahead of the election.
Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Katie Britt, R-Ala., have their own version of a bill to provide IVF and fertility services, but the Democrats say it doesn’t go far enough.
The fight over IVF protections erupted earlier this year after the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that embryos are children.
The decision sparked outrage across the country – from both Republicans and Democrats – and put thousands of families trying to have children through IVF in limbo.
A month later, Alabama Republican Gov. Kay Ivey signed a law protecting access to IVF following the outcry.
In June, lawmakers held a similar vote just hours after the Supreme Court upheld access to the abortion pill mifepristone and rejected a lawsuit that would have impacted abortion access nationwide.
Embryo selection for IVF shown under a light micrograph – the treatment is overwhelmingly popular with Americans
It was the conservative court’s first major decision on reproductive rights since it overturned Roe v. Wade, ending the constitutional right to an abortion nationwide in 2022.
Mifepristone is used in more than half of abortions in the United States and has been used by more than 5.6 million women since its approval in 2000.
The National Republican Senatorial Committee previously told DailyMail.com that none of their candidates support a ban on IVF.
Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has also said that he supports IVF treatment.
But he along with 124 other House Republicans backed the Life Begins at Conception bill last year.
It does not include a carveout for IVF treatment, though it does state nothing in the bill should be ‘construed to authorize the prosecution of any woman for the death of her unborn child.’
