Kaine Cosponsors Bill to Protect Access to IVF Treatment
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, cosponsored the Access to Family Building Act, legislation to protect Americans’ right to access in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and other assisted reproductive technology services. Kaine’s announcement follows a ruling by the Alabama Supreme Court that has already led to restricted access to IVF.
“The Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade has opened the floodgates for draconian restrictions on reproductive freedom. Americans deserve the freedom to decide whether, when, and how to start or build their families—without interference by the government. This legislation would help us codify that right by safeguarding access to IVF, and unfortunately, its passage is more important than ever.”
12 million people around the world have been born because of IVF and other assisted reproductive technology services. The first birth in the United States by IVF was in Norfolk, Virginia in 1981.
Kaine has been a vocal advocate for reproductive freedom in Congress. In the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down Roe v. Wade, Kaine worked across the aisle to introduce the Reproductive Freedom For All Act, a bipartisan bill to codify the essential holdings of Roe and related cases protecting women’s rights to access abortion and contraception. Kaine has also cosponsored the Veteran Families Health Services Act of 2023, legislation that would expand the fertility treatments and family-building services covered under servicemembers’ and veterans’ health care.
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