The Senate rejected a proposal on Thursday aimed at safeguarding access to in vitro fertilization (IVF), a vote largely anticipated to fail due to near-unanimous opposition from Republican senators.
Democrats, led by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York, have pledged to bring forth a series of votes this summer to protect reproductive health rights, seeking to press Republicans with challenging decisions leading up to the November elections.
The legislation in question, The Right to IVF Act, was introduced by Sen. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, and Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey. It aimed to prohibit states from imposing restrictions on IVF and mandated insurance coverage for the fertility treatment. However, the bill fell short of the 60 votes needed to advance.
Only two Republican senators, Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, supported the measure. Schumer changed his vote to oppose it, enabling Democrats to reintroduce the legislation later.
Schumer expressed concern over recent legal developments, citing a decision by the Alabama Supreme Court earlier this year that classified embryos used in IVF as children, following the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022. He underscored the precarious state of reproductive health services beyond abortion, including IVF and birth control.
The Senate vote coincided with the Supreme Court’s dismissal of a case challenging the legality of mifepristone, commonly known as the abortion pill, and followed the Southern Baptist Convention’s decision to oppose IVF. These events highlight the evolving and contentious landscape of issues that resonate deeply with voters nationwide.
Most Senate Republicans opposed the bill, arguing it encroaches on religious freedoms and extends beyond the scope of IVF. In a joint statement, all 49 Senate Republicans accused Senate Democrats of promoting unfounded fear tactics during what they termed a “Summer of Scare Tactics.”
Republicans have advocated for an alternative bill to protect IVF, sponsored by Sens. Katie Britt of Alabama and Ted Cruz of Texas. Their proposal seeks to withhold Medicaid funding from states that impose a complete ban on IVF. However, Democrats reject this bill, concerned that states could still pass laws granting embryos the legal rights of a child.
Sen. Britt defended her bill as a genuine solution capable of securing broad support in the Senate. She emphasized the importance of dispelling fears among women seeking to become mothers, viewing IVF as a means to experience what she termed “God’s greatest gift.”
