A U.S. Senate bill aimed at securing federal protections and expanding insurance coverage for fertility treatments failed on Tuesday, after facing opposition from Republican lawmakers. Despite former President Donald Trump recently expressing support for such measures, the bill was blocked for a second time, falling short of the necessary 60-vote threshold with a 51-44 vote. Democrats, who control the Senate by a narrow 51-49 margin, were unable to advance the legislation.
The bill, introduced by Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth, sought to protect access to in vitro fertilization (IVF) and ensure broader insurance coverage for the procedure, which is used by millions of Americans each year. Senator Duckworth, who has two daughters conceived through IVF, initially pushed for a vote on the bill in February, following a controversial Alabama Supreme Court ruling that classified embryos used in IVF as children. This ruling has raised concerns about potential restrictions on fertility treatments across the country.
Speaking on the Senate floor after the vote, Duckworth emphasized the broader implications of the issue. “The freedom to receive reproductive care is at risk for millions of women whose deepest hope is to have a child of their own,” she said. “Republicans seem to prioritize protecting life only when it is made up of cells in a lab freezer.”
The bill faced renewed attention after Donald Trump, a Republican presidential candidate, unexpectedly voiced support for expanding access to fertility treatments. During an August campaign event in La Crosse, Wisconsin, Trump stated that if elected, he would require the government or insurance companies to cover the costs of IVF. “We want to produce babies in this country, right?” Trump said, surprising some within his party, where hardline views on reproductive health have made IVF a divisive issue.
Trump’s campaign did not immediately respond to requests for comment following Tuesday’s vote.