Senate Republicans blocked legislation to establish a national right to in vitro fertilization (IVF) on Thursday, a move Democrats are using to highlight GOP stances on reproductive rights ahead of the November elections. The bill required 60 votes to advance but fell short with a 48-47 result. Only two Republicans, Sens. Susan Collins (Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), supported it.
The Right to IVF Act, sponsored by Democratic Sens. Tammy Duckworth, Patty Murray, and Cory Booker, aimed to establish nationwide IVF rights and lower treatment costs. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer criticized Republicans, stating, “Protecting IVF should be the easiest ‘yes’ vote the Senate has taken all year.”
Republicans dismissed the vote as an election-year tactic, citing concerns about unfunded mandates and religious freedom. President Biden condemned the blocking of the bill, accusing Republicans of undermining women’s health and reproductive freedom.
Republicans proposed an alternative IVF bill from Sens. Ted Cruz and Katie Britt, which was blocked by Sen. Murray. The GOP bill aimed to prevent states from banning IVF but allowed restrictions on embryo handling.
The vote followed the Southern Baptist Convention’s opposition to IVF, criticizing the destruction of embryos.
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