[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 70 (Thursday, April 28, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E435]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         IN RECOGNITION OF NATIONAL INFERTILITY AWARENESS WEEK

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                     HON. DEBBIE WASSERMAN SCHULTZ

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 28, 2022

  Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate 
National Infertility Awareness Week to salute the parents, doctors, 
researchers, and many others for the extraordinary advancements made 
over the last four decades to help individuals build families who, 
without this progress, could not do so. National Infertility Awareness 
Week, founded in 1989 by RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association, 
is the largest public awareness campaign that addresses the public 
health issue of infertility.
  Most Americans are not aware that one in eight, or nearly 7.4 million 
Americans are hindered by the disease of infertility. It affects both 
men and women and knows no barriers. Infertility affects all races, 
religious backgrounds, and every economic status. I introduce this 
bipartisan resolution to highlight this issue, encourage research, and 
support all those affected by infertility.
  Since 1978, extraordinary medical advancements have enabled millions 
of couples to receive life-affirming treatments that resulted in the 
delivery of babies. We must continue this progress and especially work 
to reduce racial and ethnic disparities in research and treatment. 
Bringing a child into the world is truly a blessing and should be 
available for anyone who wants to start a family, no matter their 
background.
  The contributions that research scientists have made to advance 
infertility treatments--including a procedure that allows young cancer 
patients to preserve their fertility prior to undergoing lifesaving 
chemotherapy treatments--are utterly amazing. Organizations like 
RESOLVE, the National Infertility Association, and the Alliance for 
Fertility Preservation, all advocate for the millions of individuals 
and couples in this country who need help to have a family.
  I know from my own infertility experience, that to realize the dream 
of having children, we must better understand infertility and how it 
affects individuals and families to advocate for sensible solutions, 
more effectively.
  Ms. Barb Collura, the CEO of RESOLVE, has testified before Congress 
in support of fertility services for the countless military veterans 
whose service-related injuries have rendered them infertile. There are 
also others such as Joyce Reinecke, Executive Director of the Alliance 
for Fertility Preservation and cancer survivor, has lent her voice to 
the importance of affordable fertility preservation options for 
individuals undergoing cancer treatment. In fact, in the absence of 
adequate coverage, charitable organizations provide valuable, life-
changing, financial assistance to cancer survivors who would like to 
have children but lack support.
  Congress can do more to remove barriers that currently exist for 
those who experience infertility challenges. And I applaud my 
colleagues, including Congresswomen Julia Brownley, Rosa DeLauro, 
Marilyn Strickland, and Congressman Rick Larsen for joining me in 
introducing legislation devoted to eliminating obstacles to building 
families.
  I also salute the millions of infertility warriors throughout the 
country and the world, who advocate on behalf of that most precious of 
gifts, that of creating a family.

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