For the second time in three months, Republicans have overwhelmingly voted against a bill that would establish a federal right to IVF access.
Senate Democrats brought up the bill again to pressure Republicans after the former president Donald Trump called himself a "leader on fertilization," during his presidential debate last week with Kamala Harris, and promised that the federal government or insurance companies would cover IVF at no cost to the taxpayer if he's elected.
The Right to IVF Act would have established a nationwide right "to receive fertility treatment from a health care provider, in accordance with widely accepted and evidence-based medical standards of care," in addition to making the treatments more affordable by mandating that insurance companies cover fertility care. Senate Republicans argue the bill is too broad.
The legislation needed 60 votes to overcome the filibuster, but it failed 51-44. Only two Republicans — Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska — supported the measure.
