IVF Bill fails again in US Senate as Democrats pressure GOP

On Tuesday, the US Senate failed to advance a bill that would protect access to in vitro fertilization (IVF), marking another partisan clash over reproductive rights during the 2024 presidential election cycle.

The "Right to IVF Act" fell short of the 60 votes needed to pass, with a 51-44 tally, as Democrats aimed to place Republican opposition on record. The bill would prevent state-level restrictions on IVF and mandate insurance coverage for the procedure.

Despite the bill’s defeat, two Republicans, Senators Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine, crossed party lines to support it, as they had in a similar vote in June.

Most of their GOP colleagues, however, continued to argue that the bill was a political maneuver by Democrats, insisting there is no real threat to IVF access and raising concerns about its provisions infringing on religious rights.

Many Republicans oppose the broad insurance coverage mandate, which they argue could force employers with religious objections to cover IVF treatments.

Murkowski, a supporter of IVF, told STAT that while Democrats used the bill to score political points, she wanted her constituents in Alaska to understand her strong backing for IVF access.

The vote reflects the broader difficulty many Republicans face in navigating reproductive rights issues.

Former President Donald Trump recently stirred the debate by declaring his support for making IVF free of cost, either through government funding or insurance mandates, complicating the party's stance.

However, many GOP senators, including those who voted against the bill, have criticized the proposal for its potential to impose broad mandates.

Democrats argue that the need to protect IVF access is urgent, especially in light of restrictive abortion laws passed since the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.

Some states, like Alabama, have enacted laws that inadvertently threaten IVF by recognizing embryos as legal children, raising concerns about potential future restrictions on the procedure.

Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.) emphasized that Trump’s role in overturning Roe has jeopardized IVF access, adding that his recent statements claiming leadership on IVF only further spotlight Republican inconsistency on the issue.

Murray also blocked a GOP-led bill on IVF, arguing that it contained loopholes allowing states to restrict the procedure.

Despite repeated failures, Democrats continue to push for federal protections on IVF, underscoring reproductive health as a key issue in the upcoming election.