[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 143 (Monday, September 16, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S6044]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                          The Right to IVF Act

  Madam President, when Roe v. Wade was overruled, anti-choice 
politicians warned us that it would only be the beginning of policies 
that limit women's reproductive freedoms, and for once, they were 
telling the truth. The overruling of Roe v. Wade has been accompanied 
by a troubling increase in fetal personhood laws that threaten access 
to assisted reproductive technologies, including in vitro 
fertilization, or IVF.
  I might say, before I go any further, that the Acting President pro 
tempore has been a leader on this issue for good reason. She is not 
only right on the issue, but it is personal to her and her family. I 
thank her for her leadership.
  Earlier this year, after the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that frozen 
embryos created during IVF were children under the State's wrongful 
death statute, a national debate ensued. I held a hearing in my 
Judiciary Committee on this disturbing trend. We heard moving testimony 
from Jamie Heard, an Alabama woman whose IVF treatment was interrupted 
by this extreme decision in court. We also heard compelling testimony 
from the Acting President pro tempore herself, Senator Tammy Duckworth, 
who was able to have her two beautiful children with the help of IVF.
  Earlier this year, Senators Duckworth, Murray, Booker, and Schumer 
introduced the Right to IVF Act, which I am honored to cosponsor. It 
establishes a clear and enforceable nationwide right to receive, 
provide, or cover IVF services and other assisted reproductive 
technologies. It also expands insurance coverage for such care.
  Whether, when, and how to expand one's family is a private, personal 
matter. Every American should be able to access the care and resources 
they need to start a family however they choose. Yet, when the Senate 
last considered this bill in June, only 2--only 2--of 49 Republicans 
voted to consider the bill. The rest of the Republican caucus 
filibustered this critical legislation. They say they are for IVF, but 
they won't vote for the bill that guarantees it will be legally there.
  Republicans, led by former President Trump, know that the American 
people do not support this extreme position and are desperate to fool 
us into thinking they don't mean what they say.
  Well, they will have another chance to show the American people where 
they really stand on IVF tomorrow because, if Republicans truly support 
privacy, freedom, and the right to access IVF treatment, they are going 
to join us on a bipartisan basis to consider this bill. They can't have 
it both ways. They can't claim to support IVF while voting against 
legislation that protects the rights of families to make that decision.
  I might add, parenthetically, that this is personal to me as well. I 
have two beautiful grandkids who are the product of IVF. I am so happy 
that that happened. My daughter and her husband had just about given 
up. They couldn't find a way to do it, and they found this one clinic 
that had tests that were taking place. It was successful, and we had 
two babies come out of it. They are 12 years old now, and we are so 
happy to have them. IVF is the reason they are here, and this notion 
that we are going to play games with this treatment is unfair to the 
families who are desperate to have children and make them a part of 
their futures.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll.
  The bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Ms. COLLINS. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.
  (The remarks of Ms. Collins pertaining to the introduction of S. 5055 
are printed in today's Record under ``Statements on Introduced Bills 
and Joint Resolutions.'')
  Ms. COLLINS. I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. GRASSLEY. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.
  The Senator from Iowa.