Austin News

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), alongside Sens. Katie Britt (R-Ala.) and Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), sought unanimous consent in the Senate to pass their proposed legislation, the IVF Protection Act. The bill aimed to ensure federal protection for in vitro fertilization (IVF). However, Senate Democrats blocked the effort.

On the Senate floor, Sen. Cruz stated, “IVF is a medical miracle that has brought the joy of parenthood to millions of families who might otherwise have never experienced it. I am a strong supporter of IVF, and I am incredibly grateful for the technology that has enabled parents, moms and dads desperate to bring into the world little boys and little girls to finally hold a child in their arms.”

Cruz emphasized that IVF is "profoundly pro-family" and provides hope for those struggling with infertility. He urged bipartisan support for the bill, citing a poll indicating that 86 percent of Americans believe IVF should be legal and protected.

Following objections from Senate Democrats, Cruz remarked, “The Democrats just cynically objected to [a bill that] would protect IVF for every parent in the country, and it would become federal law. Except for one thing: the Democrats do not want it to because if we pass clear [and] strong federal protections for IVF, the issue that they’re planning to campaign on would go away."

He described this opposition as "one of the most cynical displays of partisan politics" witnessed on the Senate floor.

Since its development in the 1970s, IVF has been recognized as a safe and effective method for achieving pregnancy. It has enabled millions of aspiring parents to experience childbirth and is estimated to account for nearly 2 percent of all live births in the United States annually.

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