Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) is circulating a nonbinding resolution to Democrats and Republicans expressing “strong support for continued access to fertility care” including in vitro fertilization.
In an email sent to congressional offices, Mace’s legislative director said the resolution is being introduced “in light of the Alabama Supreme Court’s ruling which has jeopardized access to in vitro fertilization (IVF) for couples in the state of Alabama.”
The South Carolina Republican is asking members to sign on to the “sense of Congress” resolution by Thursday.
Mace’s effort comes as Democrats in both chambers push for votes on legislation that would create federal protections for IVF.
The Mace measure expresses support for cryogenically freezing embryos, and calls IVF a “safe, reliable, and effective” medical procedure that “allows for more couples to achieve pregnancy.”
It says the Alabama ruling would increase the cost of reproductive technology in the state, expose providers to liabilities and result in fewer pregnancies and babies being born.
It also “calls on elected officials at all levels of government to proactively pass legislation to protect access to fertility care.”
Senate Democrats on Wednesday are trying to pass a bill from Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) and others that would do just that, daring Republicans to block it.
Mace’s office in a statement said the resolution “is not in lieu of introducing a bill” and “it is her hope that this resolution gains strong bipartisan support and she can build on that with substantive legislation to protect access to IVF” and other reproductive technologies.
A companion House bill from Rep. Susan Wild (D-Pa.) has no GOP co-sponsors. Mace’s office did not say if she supports it.
In a statement, Wild said the resolution “could not have prevented what happened in Alabama, nor stop any other state from taking steps to ban fertility treatments. If they're actually interested in protecting IVF — as they state in the final line of their resolution — they are more than welcome to co-sponsor my existing bill, the Access to Family Building Act, which would do exactly that."
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