Democratic and Republican in vitro fertilization bills
WASHINGTON — A closely divided U.S. Senate deadlocked on Tuesday over the best way to provide nationwide protections for in vitro fertilization, even as lawmakers from both parties insisted they wanted to do so.
Republicans voted against advancing a Democratic bill that would have prevented states from imposing “harmful or unreasonable restrictions” on the procedure and supported access for military members and veterans. Two Republicans voted with Democrats — Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska.
Not long ago, Senate Democrats — who narrowly control the chamber — blocked Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and Alabama Sen. Katie Buenos Aires in a procedural move. Ritter’s Republican bill that would ban Medicaid funds from going to any state that bans in vitro fertilization.
The 51-44 vote, which prevented the Democratic legislation from reaching a final vote, came after several speeches and press conferences by the Harris-Walz presidential campaign to try to elevate the issue ahead of the November election. The measure needs 60 votes to pass.
“This is an opportunity for my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to get their votes on the ground,” said the bill’s sponsor, Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill. The mother of a child born through in vitro fertilization. “They say they support IVF. Here you go – vote on this.
Duckworth said the legislation would provide critical in vitro fertilization services to U.S. service members and veterans, many of whom experience infertility or fertility difficulties as a result of their service.
“It allows our service members to preserve and freeze their genetic material before deploying to a combat zone; that way, if they are injured and become infertile, they have preserved their genetic material so they can build the beauty they want on their own. Family,” Duckworth said.
Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris issued a written statement after the vote, condemning Republican senators for blocking the bill.
“Every woman in every state must have reproductive freedom,” Harris wrote. “However, congressional Republicans have once again made clear that they will not protect many couples’ access to fertility treatments to realize their dreams of having children.”
republican party Blocked Democrats’ bill earlier this year. But Senate leadership scheduled another vote after Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump This question was re-raised In August, he said his administration would force health insurance companies to cover the cost of IVF — a sharp departure from how Republicans have approached the issue.
“Under the Trump administration, we are going to pay for this treatment,” Trump told NBC News. “We’re going to ask insurance companies to pay for it.”
alabama ruling
Earlier this year, Democrats began discussing in detail preserving access to IVF following an Alabama Supreme Court hearing express an opinion In February, frozen embryos constituted children under state law.
The ruling forces all IVF clinics in the state to cease operations until the state Legislature passes passed a bill Provides criminal and civil protection for these clinics.
Democrats have since argued that the legislation contradicts the belief that life begins at conception, espoused by most conservative Republicans, and the chances of IVF, which typically freezes more embryos than implants.
These frozen embryos can be kept or discarded, depending on the patient’s wishes, clinic policy and state law. Some conservatives believe discarding should not be legal, or are opposed to the process altogether.
Take the Southern Baptist Convention, for example. Voted against in vitro fertilization earlier this yearwrote in a resolution that couples should consider adoption and that the process “employs a dehumanizing approach to determining fitness for life.”
“We grieve with those couples who have been diagnosed with infertility or are currently struggling to conceive, affirm their prayerful desire for a child, and encourage them to consider the ethical implications of assisted reproductive technologies as they seek hope, grace, and wisdom from God. Painful,” it said.
Senate Democrats’ pressure to protect IVF runs parallel to their efforts to support other reproductive rights, such as birth control and abortion.
These issues are likely to play a major role in determining the outcome of this November’s presidential election and which party controls the House and Senate.
Republican vice presidential candidate Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance missed Tuesday’s vote, but Vote against advancing Democrats’ in vitro fertilization bill When it’s on the floor in June.
Cruz, Britt’s IVF bill
Cruz demands quick approval of one of his and Britt’s in vitro fertilization bills ahead of Senate vote on Democratic bill Launched earlier this year.
Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., blocked his request for unanimous consent.
During debate on the bill, Britt questioned why Democrats had not scheduled a recorded vote on their legislation, saying it could get the 60 votes needed for final passage.
“Today, we have the opportunity to take swift and overwhelming action to protect caring American families’ continued access to IVF across the country,” Britt said. “Our bill is the only bill that protects access to IVF while upholding religious freedom. of the bill.”
The Britt-Cruz bill has three co-sponsors: Wyoming Senator Cynthia Loomis, Kansas Senator Roger Marshall and Mississippi Senator Roger Wicker.
Murray said the Britt-Cruz bill does not address what happens in states that legislate fetal personhood, which she called “the biggest threat to in vitro fertilization.”
“There’s no clarity on whether states can require embryos to be treated the same as living, breathing people,” Murray said. “Or whether parents should be allowed to let clinics dispose of unused embryos, which is common during in vitro fertilization. and necessary part.”
Cruz is trying to pass his legislation through the unanimous consent process, which allows any senator to request approval. Any senator could then block the request from moving forward — as Murray did. No votes were recorded as part of the UC process.
Cruz previously Unanimous consent required to pass the bill in Junebut was also blocked at that time.
legal protection
Democratic 64 pages of bill Legal protection will be provided to anyone seeking fertility treatment, including in vitro fertilization, and to health care professionals who provide such care.
It would prohibit state and federal governments from “creating harmful or unreasonable restrictions or requirements” on IVF.
The bill would expand fertility treatment coverage for military members and veterans and their spouses, partners or surrogates.
The American Society for Reproductive Medicine supports the Democrats’ legislation. Sean Tipton, chief advocacy and policy officer, wrote in a statement released this week that Democrats’ IVF bill would “protect Americans’ right to seek the medical care they may need to have a baby and ensure that no health care is provided Those facing legal consequences for trying to help their children”. The patient seeks to start his or her own family. “
“This legislation also increases access to IVF treatment for all Americans by providing coverage for employer-sponsored insurance plans and other public insurance plans,” Tipton wrote. Military members, veterans and civilian workers provide coverage to ensure the federal government treats its employees right.”
