Jefferson Reporter

U.S. Senators Katie Britt (R-Ala.) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas) today moved for immediate passage of the IVF Protection Act, which they introduced in May. For the second time in recent months, Senate Democrats blocked the bill from passing.

The bill proposed by Senators Britt and Cruz aims to ensure that no state prohibits access to in vitro fertilization (IVF) services. It does not compel any person or organization to provide IVF services, and it permits states to implement health and safety standards regarding the practice of IVF. Under the legislation's language, states would be ineligible to receive Medicaid funding if they banned access to IVF.

Senator Britt remarked, “For many Americans, building a family, becoming a mom or a dad, that’s their American Dream. IVF makes the difference in achieving that dream for millions of Americans who are facing infertility.” She emphasized that “IVF is legal and available from coast to coast, in every single corner of America, and in all 50 states. That includes my home state of Alabama, where Governor Ivey and the Alabama Legislature acted quickly to protect IVF access.”

Britt continued, “Our bill is the only bill that protects IVF access while safeguarding religious liberty. It also could get 60 votes in the United States Senate and isn’t that the point? Yet, we’re going to have a show-vote when we’ve been talking and saying that we want to protect access to IVF.”

She further criticized her colleagues across the aisle: “Democrats are choosing to spread misinformation rather than fostering hope. The American people deserve better. The path forward is Senator Cruz and my IVF Protection Act.”

The move by Senators Britt and Cruz came ahead of a second full-Senate vote on another piece of legislation called The Right to IVF Act. According to Senator Britt, this bill "goes vastly outside the scope of IVF" including treatments like human cloning. The bill failed as expected.

“Senate Democrats’ Summer of Scare Tactics has expanded into a Fall of Fear-Mongering with continued partisan efforts to mislead and confuse the American people,” said Senator Britt. “If Democrats truly were committed to common-ground solutions instead of self-serving scare tactics, then the IVF Protection Act would be on the floor today."

Background information indicates that Senators Britt and Cruz introduced their IVF Protection Act in spring. Their request for unanimous consent was previously blocked by Senate Democrats in June.

In addition, U.S. Representatives Scott Perry (R-Pa.) and Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) introduced a companion bill in the House.

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