House Republicans Divided on Protecting Access to In Vitro Fertilization
House Republicans at their annual policy retreat in White Sulphur Springs, W.Va., have shown strong support for in vitro fertilization (IVF) this week. However, there is a divide among Republicans on how to protect access to this treatment that has helped millions of families have children.
Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., believes that Congress should not have a role in this issue and that it should be handled by individual states. Despite this, more than 120 Republicans, including Johnson, have signed on to legislation from Rep. Alex Mooney of West Virginia that could potentially threaten the use of IVF for pregnancy.
The Alabama Supreme Court’s recent ruling that embryos are considered children has raised questions about the legality of IVF and sparked a national debate. Republicans facing tough re-election bids this fall are now grappling with the IVF issue in light of this ruling.
Rep. Michelle Steel, R-Calif., who represents a swing district in Orange County, withdrew her co-sponsorship from Mooney’s Life at Conception Act, stating her support for IVF. Freshman Rep. Marc Molinaro, R-N.Y., became the first Republican to sign on to House Democrats’ bill to protect access to IVF, calling it “just commonsense.”
The divide among Republicans on the IVF issue reflects the broader debate on reproductive rights in the country. Democrats strongly believe that Congress needs to protect access to IVF following recent court rulings, while Republicans are navigating their stance on the issue.
The GOP-controlled Legislature in Alabama recently passed a bill to protect IVF following the Supreme Court’s ruling. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., introduced her own IVF protection legislation, the Right to Try IVF Act, emphasizing the importance of ethical and responsible use of IVF.
Overall, the debate on IVF within the Republican Party highlights the complexities of reproductive rights issues and the ongoing national conversation on the topic. Both Democrats and Republicans are actively engaging in discussions and legislative efforts to address these issues.
