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Washington — Senate Republicans voted Tuesday to block a bill that would guarantee access to in vitro fertilization nationwide — as Democrats spotlight the issue in the run-up to the November elections.
The video is from a previous report.
Democrats brought the bill back to the Senate floor after Republicans previously blocked the measure from advancing in June.
Many Republicans have criticized the Democrat-led legislation as unnecessary overreach and a political show vote, while saying they do support IVF.
The vote is part of a broader push by Senate Democrats to draw a contrast with Republicans over reproductive health care as the 2024 elections approach.
It also gave Democrats an opportunity to put Republicans on the spot after GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump said in August that, if elected, he would implement a policy to require either the government or insurance companies to pay for IVF treatment. Democrats have questioned the sincerity of the proposal.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on Monday pressed for Republicans to join Democrats in voting to advance the IVF bill.
“We’re already beginning to hear the same tired and predictable and unconvincing excuses from our Republican colleagues looking for a way to vote against IVF protections”, Schumer said. “To my Republican colleagues, if you truly support IVF, then vote for a bill that actually protects IVF through the letter of the law. Republicans cannot claim to be pro-family on the one hand, while then voting against IVF protection bills on the other hand.
