Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is expected to bring a Democratic-backed bill aimed at giving federal protections to in vitro fertilization (IVF) to the floor for a test vote this week, after failing to advance a Democratic-backed contraception bill last week.
With the 2024 general election approaching, Senate Democrats have highlighted reproductive rights such as contraception and in vitro fertilization, saying they would seek to ban these services in addition to abortion if Republicans take power.
An IVF bill spearheaded by Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., will likely face a procedural vote on Thursday but is not expected to reach the 60-vote threshold.
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Schumer and Democrats plan to vote on the IVF bill after forcing Republicans to speak publicly about birth control. (Getty Images)
The bill was previously blocked by Republicans who criticized it for being too broad and not allowing for specific regulations. Earlier this year, Duckworth tried to bring the bill to a unanimous vote. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), chair of the Senate Pro-Life Caucus, opposed the request, saying, “The bill before us today is a huge overreach, full of too much poison pills.”
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Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) spoke about protecting access to IVF during a press conference on Capitol Hill on Feb. 27, 2024. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
But Duckworth denied at the time that her Republican colleagues’ criticisms were false.
Schumer is expected to schedule a vote on the Democratic-backed bill, but Republicans may push for a vote on their own IVF alternative that would give states leeway to regulate the procedure while barring a total ban.
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Senators Ted Cruz and Katie Britt have introduced legislation to protect IVF. (Getty Images)
The conservative bill was sponsored by Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Katie Britt (R-Ala.) Lawmakers have the option to seek unanimous consent to bring the bill to a floor vote, but Democrats are likely to oppose it.
Republican senators are considering all options, according to people familiar with the matter.
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Last week, the Senate voted on the Democrats’ contraception bill. (iStock)
Last week, the Senate voted against advancing a Democratic-backed bill to protect federal access to birth control, with Republicans also denouncing the bill as too broad. Moderate Republicans Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) joined their Democratic colleagues in voting.
Democrats are trying to focus on abortion and other reproductive concerns after Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022, eliminating a constitutional right to abortion and giving states the power to decide whether to ban or restrict abortion. The issue has been prioritized by Democrats, especially those in battleground states who are at risk and at a disadvantage on issues like the southern border.
