Tester Votes to Protect Montanans’ Access to IVF, Defend Freedom to Make Personal Health Care Decisions

Senator is only member of Montana's delegation to support the Right to IVF Act which would protect Montanans' freedom to start or grow their family, establish legal right to access in-vitro fertilization

Continuing his longstanding efforts to protect Montanans' freedom and privacy to make their own personal health care decisions, U.S. Senator Jon Tester today voted for legislation that would safeguard Montana women's access to in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and other assisted reproductive technology.

The Right to IVF Act would establish a legal right to access IVF and other assisted reproductive services, overriding any state effort to limit or ban such access and ensuring no Montanan is prevented from trying to start or grow their family. It also includes provisions from previous Tester-backed legislation that would help more veterans and servicemembers get the critical fertility services they need to start or grow their families.

"In Montana, folks of all stripes don't want the government telling them what to do-and that includes ensuring women can make their own health care decisions," said Tester. "Being a father and a grandfather is one of the greatest joys of my life, and no judge, politician, or bureaucrat should infringe on the freedom of Montanans' to start or grow their own family. I'm proud to have voted again to safeguard Montanans, servicemembers, and veterans' access to in-vitro fertilization and will continue to support women's freedom to make their own health care decisions."

Tester has led the fight to ensure that Montana women have freedom to make health care decisions as well as access to safe and effective health care, and highlighted several of his efforts at today's event.

Tester is a strong supporter of the Women's Health Protection Act, which would guarantee the right to privacy for women making personal healthcare decisions by codifying Roe v. Wade. Tester is an original co-sponsor of the Right to Contraception Act, which would guarantee the right for individuals to obtain and use contraceptives, and for health providers to prescribe contraceptives and give information related to contraception. Earlier this year, Tester cosponsored and voted in favor of the Right to IVF Act when it was previously brought to the floor for a vote.

On the second anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade, Tester spoke in Bozeman alongside local health care providers and advocates to reiterate his longstanding efforts to defend Montanans' freedoms and privacy to make their own personal health care decisions.

Last year, Tester sent a letter to Walgreens and CVS' executives pressing the companies to take immediate action to ensure that all women, including those in rural areas like Montana, have access to safe and effective health care. Tester's letter came in response to Walgreens' decision limiting the sale of mifepristone and misoprostol, even in states like Montana where the medications are legal. Tester's pushback was successful - after sending his letter, CVS and Walgreens announced they planned to become certified and offer mifepristone and misoprostol in states like Montana where laws would allow pharmacies to dispense it. Tester has also signed onto bicameral amicus briefs calling on the Supreme Court to reject a decision that would restrict access to mifepristone.