Duckworth Highlights Need to Protect IVF Access, Pass Her Right to IVF Act During Carterville Roundtable
Despite Trump’s campaign promises, Republicans have continued their efforts to restrict IVF coverage and access
[CARTERVILLE, IL] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today hosted a discussion at John A. Logan College with IVF providers, advocates and families on the challenges they face with IVF access at risk across the country after Donald Trump’s Supreme Court Justices overturned Roe v. Wade. She was joined by local IVF recipients, as well as doctors, medical professionals and leaders from SIH Memorial Hospital of Carbondale, Shawnee Health, Washington University and Deaconess Illinois. Duckworth, the author of the Right to IVF Act, has been leading the charge in Congress to protect access to IVF nationwide in the face of Republicans’ continued crusade against women’s access to critical reproductive health care. Photos from today’s event are available on the Senator’s website.
“Despite promising to protect IVF access on the campaign trail, no one should forget that IVF access is only at risk in the first place because Donald Trump overturned Roe, and when he had the chance this week to keep his promise by pushing to protect IVF for servicemembers—he did nothing,” Duckworth said. “Struggling with infertility is painful enough—and every American deserves access to the treatment and tools they need to build the family of their dreams without the fear of being prosecuted for it. That’s one reason why—regardless of Trump continuing to break his own promises—I’m going to do everything I can to protect IVF access nationwide by working to pass my Right to IVF Act.”
Duckworth’s Right to IVF Act, comprehensive legislation she led with U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Cory Booker (D-NJ), would establish a right to IVF and other assisted reproductive technology (ART), expand access for hopeful parents, Veterans and federal employees and help lower the costs of IVF for middle class families across the country. Despite many of them publicly claiming to support IVF for the millions of Americans who rely on it to build their families, nearly every Senate Republican voted against the bill in June and again in September. This was the second time this year that Senate Republicans blocked Duckworth-led legislation that would protect access to IVF nationwide.
The Right to IVF Act builds upon Duckworth’s previous legislation, the Access to Family Building Act that was also blocked by Senate Republicans earlier this year. After the Alabama Supreme Court ruling that put access to IVF at risk for families across that state, Duckworth led a group of Senate Democrats in calling for the passage of the Access to Family Building Act through unanimous consent—however, Republican U.S. Senator of Mississippi Cindy Hyde-Smith objected, ultimately blocking Duckworth’s effort.
Duckworth was the first Senator to give birth while serving in office and had both of her children with the help of IVF. In 2018 she advocated for the Senate to change its rules so she could bring her infant onto the Senate floor.
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