WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Katie Britt (R-Ala.) authored an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal about their bill, the IVF Protection Act. Read the op-ed here.
We’ll Protect Both Life and IVF
Families across the U.S. are understandably worried that in vitro fertilization is under threat. As Republican senators from Texas and Alabama, we’re united on many issues, including the need to protect both life and access to IVF treatments, which many families rely on to have children. This issue is close to our hearts as parents.
The Alabama Supreme Court in February ruled that embryos created through IVF should be considered children under the law. The ruling came in response to wrongful-death lawsuits filed by parents who alleged that a clinic had failed to protect their embryos, resulting in the embryos’ destruction. Following the court’s decision, confusion and misinformation has spread, inflamed by partisan commentary. This has alarmed many prospective parents who see IVF as their pathway to parenthood.
To address these concerns, we will introduce a bill on Monday to ensure IVF access is legally protected nationwide. The legislation would require, as a condition of receiving federal Medicaid funding, that states don’t prohibit IVF. While the Alabama Legislature after the court’s decision promptly reiterated that IVF is protected, federal legislation would eliminate any ambiguity that might arise from future state-level judicial interpretations. Our goal is to make sure that any family’s path to bringing a child into the world isn’t compromised by preventable legal confusion.
Read the rest of the op-ed here.
