Reed & Whitehouse Renew Push to Establish a Nationwide Right to IVF and Lower IVF Costs for Families

The Right to IVF Act reintroduction comes nearly two years since Donald Trump promised free IVF for all, which he's still failed to deliver

WASHINGTON, DC - Parenthood is a key life goal for many, but due to infertility and the high cost of fertility treatments, many Americans are fiscally constrained from accessing in vitro fertilization (IVF) as an option to help start a family.

Now, two years after President Donald Trump failed to follow through on his promise of free IVF for all Americans on the campaign trail, U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) are teaming up with U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and several colleagues in reintroducing the Right to IVF Act, a sweeping legislative package that would make it easier to access IVF and other assisted reproductive technology (ART) for the millions of hopeful parents who depend on it to build their family.

This pro-family legislation would establish a nationwide right to access IVF, lower the costs of IVF treatment, expand IVF coverage for military families and require all employer-sponsored insurance programs to cover IVF.

Unfortunately, many Republican lawmakers who see IVF as akin to abortion because they view all embryos as children, have undermined IVF protections and scared President Trump into retreating from his IVF campaign promises.

"Almost two years after promising free IVF for all Americans if he were elected, Donald Trump has still failed to deliver," said Duckworth. "Trump and Republicans' 'support' for IVF is nothing but lip service. They want us to have more babies, yet they'll do nothing to actually help make it easier for the millions who struggle with infertility to start and grow their families. The Right to IVF Act would immediately make IVF treatment more affordable for millions of hopeful parents across the country. From middle class families, to our brave servicemembers and Veterans, to federal employees and more-every American deserves the right to access the treatment and tools they need to build the family of their dreams without burning through their savings. If Republicans really support IVF, then let's get this done. No more delays."

"Helping aspiring parents start a family should be a bipartisan priority. Despite pledging to help make IVF and other fertility treatments more affordable and accessible for American families, President Trump has not followed through. His IVF pledge was just another hollow platitude that became a broken promise. The Right to IVF Act is a pro-family bill that would prioritize affordable IVF care. It would help more Americans who experience infertility issues afford fertility care to they can start a family and put down roots," said Senator Reed.

"It's no surprise that President Trump completely abandoned his campaign pledge to make IVF and fertility treatments free. The second Trump administration has been a disaster for health care across the board, from skyrocketing insurance costs to runaway disease outbreaks," said Senator Whitehouse. "Democrats are working to make it easier for Americans facing fertility challenges to realize their dream of becoming parents."

Last Congress, Senate Republicans shamefully blocked the Right to IVF Act, exposing the hollowness of Republicans' empty claims to support IVF for the millions of Americans who rely on it to build their family. This marked the fourth time Senate Republicans blocked Duckworth-led legislation that would protect access to IVF nationwide, with previous instances including her Access to Family Building Act that builds on previous legislation she introduced in 2022.

While Senate Democrats continue their efforts to protect IVF and reproductive freedom, Senate Republicans continue making it abundantly clear through their anti-choice extremism and record Medicaid cuts that they would rather undermine access to basic health care for millions of Americans than make it easier for their constituents to start and build a family.

In addition to Duckworth, Reed, and Whitehouse, the bill is sponsored by the entire U.S. Senate Democratic Caucus, including: U.S. Senators Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Patty Murray (D-WA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Dick Durbin (D-IL), John Fetterman (D-PA), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Angus King (I-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark Warner (D-VA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) and Raphael Warnock (D-GA).

Companion legislation is being introduced in the House by U.S. Representatives Lori Trahan (D-MA-03), James Walkinshaw (D-VA-11), Rick Larsen (D-WA-02), Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03) and Laura Gillen (D-NY-04).

The Right to IVF Act is supported by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), RESOLVE: The National Infertility and Family Building Association, Center for Reproductive Rights (CRR), Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA), National Women's Law Center (NWLC), American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), GLBTQ Legal Advocates and Defenders (GLAD Law), Academy of Adoption & Assisted Reproduction Attorneys, Stand with IVF, AllPaths Family Building, American Association of People with Disabilities, American Atheists, Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology, Society for Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility, Society of Reproductive Biologists & Technologists, Society for Reproductive Surgeons, California LGBTQ Health and Human Services Network, Endocrine Society, Equality California, Families USA, GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ+ Equality, Guttmacher Institute, Hadassah, Human Rights Campaign, In Our Own Voice: National Black Women's Reproductive Justice Agenda, Indivisible, Justice + Joy National Collaborative, Legal Momentum, Military Family Building Coalition, MomsRising, National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum, National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women's Health, National Center for Lesbian Rights, National Council on Jewish Women, National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund, National Partnership for Women and Families, National Women's Political Caucus, Physicians for Reproductive Health, Reproductive Freedom for All, Service Women's Action Network, Silver State Equality, What to Expect Project and Women's March.

"The American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) welcomes the bicameral reintroduction of the Right to IVF Act, which would achieve accessible and affordable fertility care for all Americans," said ASRM Chief Advocacy and Policy Officer Sean Tipton. "This visionary and comprehensive effort would protect patients' ability to build their families through safe, evidence-based treatments like in vitro fertilization. By safeguarding access to assisted reproductive technology (ART), preserving the physician-patient relationship, and expanding coverage for the individuals and families who need it most, this legislation reflects the standard of care that all patients deserve."