Democrats’ bill to protect IVF fails again: Why Republicans blocked it

Democrats’ bill to protect IVF fails again: Why Republicans blocked it Show Caption Hide Caption IVF support bill fails in Congress despite Trump’s support A U.S. Senate bill to provide federal protections and expand insurance coverage for fertility treatments failed on Tuesday. IVF, a treatment for infertility, has increasingly become a political issue after an Alabama Supreme Court ruling in Februrary gave embryos fertilized through IVF the same legal rights as children, causing many providers to temporarily halt treatment in the state. The Right to IVF Act, sponsored by Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-IL, aimed to protect and expand national access to fertility treatment. The bill already failed once in June, months after Duckworth brought a similar bill to the floor seeking unanimous consent in February, only to have it blocked by a Republican. “By blocking my Right to IVF Act for the second time in just a few months, Republicans proved that when the rubber meets the road they will do anything to get out of actually passing legislation that would protect women’s right to access reproductive care,” Duckworth, who used IVF to have her two children, said in a news release. “On behalf of every woman who has faced the heart-shattering struggle of infertility, all I can say to my Republican colleagues is: Shame on you.” ‘We want more babies’: Trump’s IVF plan draws flak from right and left Two Republicans voted with Democrats on Right to IVF Act The Right to IVF Act failed with 51 votes in favor, 44 votes against and 5 lawmakers, including Donald Trump’s running mate JD Vance, who did not vote. Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., accused Democrats of putting forward a “show vote” and moved for immediate passage of her own IVF protection legislation with Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas., which was blocked by Democrats. Britt’s bill also aimed to protect IVF through federal legislation, but did so by threatening to withhold Medicaid funding from states if they banned IVF. Trump has long supported IVF, but surprised many conservatives this summer on the campaign trail when he promised to require insurance companies or the government to cover costs associated with IVF. Vance, a senator from Ohio, voted against the Right to IVF Act in June, before he was named the Republican vice presidential nominee. – This Summarize was created by Neural News AI (V1). Source: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/09/18/ivf-protection-bill-failed-republican-block/75274447007/