On Capitol Steps, Murray and Colleagues Urge Republicans to Pass the Right to IVF Act—Offer Trump and Republicans Second Chance to Support IVF

ICYMI: FACT SHEET: Murray outlines how Republican attacks on IVF are serious, real, and on the rise across America

Murray: "The only reason IVF is in jeopardy, is because Donald Trump overturned Roe-something he has never stopped bragging about."

***WATCH: Senator Murray Offers Trump and Republicans Second Chance to Support IVF***

Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), a senior member and former Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, spoke at a press conference on the importance of passing the Right to IVF Act to establish a nationwide right to in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and other assisted reproductive technology (ART), and lower the costs of IVF treatment for the millions of families who need it to have children.

In her remarks, Murray spoke pointedly about how Republicans have prevented the passage of the Act, urging them to change course. The vote follows a public commitment by former President Donald Trump to support legislation that accomplishes exactly what the Right to IVF Act would enact into law. Trump's latest remarks are in direct contrast with the rising attacks on IVF and other ART services from Republican lawmakers and far-right anti-abortion extremists across the country.

"Last time, Republicans killed this bill, and Trump said nothing. Now he says he is a leader on IVF. Well that tells me two things. First, he probably doesn't understand what IVF is. Secondly, he doesn't understand what leadership is. The only reason IVF is in jeopardy, is because Donald Trump overturned Roe-something he has never stopped bragging about," said Senator Murray. "If Republicans are serious about supporting IVF, if Trump's promise to help families pay for it is more than just bluster, there is no reason we can't pass this bill into law and help a lot of people. Republicans need to realize families have been listening to what they say-and today they are going to be watching how they vote."

Senator Murray also outlined how Donald Trump's overturning of Roe v. Wade put IVF care in danger to begin with. Since the Dobbs decision resulted in dozens of Republican abortion bans and restrictions, fetal personhood efforts have come into focus. Senator Murray once again warned that the extreme ideology of fetal personhood poses a serious threat to IVF and all reproductive rights. In the House, a majority of Republicans have signed on to the Life at Conception Act, which would threaten the use of IVF for pregnancy, a process in which unused embryos or those with abnormalities can be discarded.

"My advice to Donald Trump, and J.D. Vance, and every Republican who wants to talk a big game about IVF and then refuse to show up is: save your breath. Families don't want to hear that," Senator Murray said. "For Donald Trump this may just be another empty promise that he can break, but to our families this is really personal. It is months of trying and trying. It is hundreds and thousands of dollars. It is hope and heartbreak. It is their whole world. It is their whole families' future that you are toying with. Women who struggle to have kids don't deserve to be someone's political punching bag. They do n0t deserve to be yanked around by politicians who-when push comes to shove-won't actually vote to help them. You can bet those families are going to be watching this vote today."

Senator Murray additionally described how the Right to IVF Act includes her bill to help veterans and servicemembers, who experience higher rates of infertility and encounter restrictive laws and policies before they can access IVF services. Republicans blocked Senator Murray's Veteran Families Health Services Act in March, which aims to expand VA and DoD's fertility treatment and counseling to empower servicemembers and veterans to start families when the time is right for them.

Murray has an extensive record of protecting IVF. In January, Murray co-led introduction of the Access to Family Building Act, which was a pillar of the Right to IVF Act. Murray has been fighting to expand access to IVF care for veterans and servicemembers-and for well over a decade-she has introduced legislation to address the challenges veterans face when starting a family after their service. In 2012, Senator Murray secured Senate passageof a provision to end the ban on IVF services at VA. Since the Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade, Senator Murray has fought to protect servicemembers' and veterans' access to the reproductive care they deserve.

Senator Murray's remarks as delivered are below:

"Thank you so much. Later today we will be voting, for the second time, on our Right to IVF Act-a bill that protects the right to IVF nationally, it lowers the cost of IVF for families with stronger insurance coverage requirements, and it helps more veterans and servicemembers get IVF.

"Last time, Republicans killed this bill, and Trump said nothing. Now he says he is a leader on IVF. Well that tells me two things. First, he probably doesn't understand what IVF is. And secondly, he doesn't understand what leadership is. The only reason IVF is in jeopardy, is because Donald Trump overturned Roe-something he has never stopped bragging about.

"Now Republicans in Congress are playing the same game: posturing as pro-family while voting down this bill to help families grow, pretending to support IVF while championing fetal personhood.

"But, despite Republicans' record, their empty claims about IVF support are only getting more and more brazen. If Republicans are serious about supporting IVF, if Trump's promise to help families pay for it is more than just bluster, there is no reason we can't pass this bill into law and help a lot of people. Republicans need to realize families have been listening to what they say-and today they are going to be watching how they vote.

"My advice to Donald Trump, and J.D. Vance, and every Republican who wants to talk a big game about IVF and then refuse to show up is: save your breath. Families don't want to hear that. If you only have false promises to offer couples who have faced heartbreak after heartbreak trying to grow their families-stop talking. If you only talk about childless people when you need a political punching bag on right wing podcasts-stop talking. If you only are willing to say you support IVF but you are not willing to vote for it and you aren't even willing to disavow fetal personhood-stop talking.

"Because for Donald Trump this may just be another empty promise that he can break, but to our families this is really personal. It is months of trying and trying. It is hundreds and thousands of dollars. It is hope and heartbreak. It is their whole world. It is their whole families' future that you are toying with.

"Women who struggle to have kids don't deserve to be someone's political punching bag. They do n0t deserve to be yanked around by politicians who-when push comes to shove-won't actually vote to help them. You can bet those families are going to be watching this vote today. And you're going to bet they are going to remember who actually showed up."

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