Senator Tammy Duckworth has reintroduced key legislation aimed at expanding access to in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and other assisted reproductive technologies (ART). The bill, part of her proposed Right to IVF Act, seeks to make IVF more affordable, particularly for middle-class families, federal employees, and veterans.
Duckworth’s legislation comes in response to an executive order from former President Donald Trump, which she criticized for not fulfilling its promises to make IVF more accessible. “Donald Trump promised to make IVF more affordable, but instead, he is focused on cutting vital programs and firing thousands of federal employees to fund tax cuts for billionaires while wasting time with a toothless IVF executive order that fails to deliver on his promise,” Duckworth said.
Central to the proposal is the Family Building FEHB Fairness Act, which would require the Federal Employees Health Benefit Program (FEHBP) to cover fertility treatments for Americans facing infertility. The act also provides crucial protections for other forms of ART, which millions of Americans rely on to start families.
Having undergone IVF herself to have both of her children, Duckworth is advocating for a more accessible path to parenthood, especially for families burdened by the high costs of fertility treatments. The bill aims to address these financial barriers, making assisted reproductive technologies more attainable for those in need.
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