A group of Democrats in the U.S. Senate led by Senator Tammy Duckworth is pushing to pass a bill protecting access to in vitro fertilization (IVF). The move comes after the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that fertilized eggs are children under state law, causing some IVF clinics in the state to halt their operations. Duckworth, who had her children through IVF, emphasizes the importance of the bill in ensuring access to IVF for parents who cannot conceive in other ways.
GOP lawmakers have been criticized for restricting access to IVF, with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer likening them to arsonists and condemning their actions. Should a GOP senator block the bill, Schumer plans to hold a roll call vote to hold each senator accountable for their stance on protecting IVF. Democrats stress the importance of passing the bill to give certainty to families pursuing IVF treatment.
The Alabama ruling follows the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which ended the constitutional right to abortion. Democrats like Senator Tammy Baldwin argue that these decisions have far-reaching ramifications, endangering not only reproductive rights but also access to IVF and other forms of reproductive healthcare. They urge GOP lawmakers not to block the IVF bill and support women’s rights to control their destinies without government interference.
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