VIDEO: On Senate Floor, Hirono Votes to Protect Access to IVF, Blasts Republicans for Blocking Legislation
Sen. Hirono: “As Republicans continue on their anti-freedom, anti-women crusade, Democrats will continue fighting to protect the right to IVF as we work to ensure people can make decisions about their bodies, their lives, and their futures, free from government interference.”
~ Video of Senator Hirono’s remarks is available here ~
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) voted in support of the Right to IVF Act, legislation to protect the right to in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and other assisted reproductive technology (ART) services, as well as expand insurance coverage of IVF treatment for those who struggle with infertility. The legislation, previously blocked by Senate Republicans in June, failed on the Senate floor again, with only two Republicans voting to advance it. Following the vote, Senator Hirono delivered a speech on the Senate floor, highlighting that for decades, IVF treatment and other assisted reproductive technologies have helped people, who otherwise couldn’t, start families on their own.
“While some on the right like to paint IVF as some sort of new or untested technology, that is not so,” said Senator Hirono. “The first baby delivered via IVF was more than 45 years ago, and since then IVF has helped bring more than 10 million babies into this world.”
Senator Hirono has remained committed to protecting the fundamental right to reproductive care for more than 40 years, working as a State Representative in Hawaii in the 1980s, where she led the passage of a bill making Hawaii one of the first states in the nation to require health insurers to cover IVF treatment. Most recently, following the Alabama state Supreme Court ruling that frozen embryos have the same rights as children, effectively halting IVF treatment in the state, Senator Hirono cosponsored the Access to Family Building Act, legislation that would protect IVF and ART services, which was blocked by Republicans.
Senator Hirono also highlighted her Republican colleagues’ obsession with power and control over women’s bodies.
“Republicans insist they support IVF, but refuse to protect access to IVF. They insist access to contraception is safe, but refuse to codify it into law,” said Senator Hirono. “Frankly, can anyone take Republicans at their word when they say they won’t enact a nationwide abortion ban if given the opportunity?”
“As Republicans continue on their anti-freedom, anti-women crusade Democrats will continue fighting to protect the right to IVF as we work to ensure people can make decisions about their bodies, their lives, and their futures, free from government interference.”
A transcript of Senator Hirono’s opening remarks is below and video is available for download here.
M. President, once again today, our Republican colleagues have shown us where their priorities truly lie. Despite insisting time and again how much they support the right to in vitro fertilization, or IVF, they just voted again nearly unanimously to block a bill protecting that very right.
For decades, IVF and other assisted reproductive technologies, or ART, have helped people, who otherwise couldn’t, start families of their own. While some on the right like to paint IVF as some sort of new or untested technology, that is not so.
The first baby delivered via IVF was more than 45 years ago, and since then IVF has helped bring more than 10 million babies into this world. In fact, as a State Representative in Hawaii in the 1980s, I led the passage of a bill making Hawaii one of the first states in the nation to require health insurers to cover IVF treatment. And earlier this year, I met Dr. Lori Kamemoto, an OBGYN who, decades ago, helped deliver the first baby born in Hawaii via IVF.
But now, thanks to the chaos created by Dobbs, a whole range of reproductive rights, including the right to IVF, are on the chopping block. Look at Alabama, where the state Supreme Court invoked a ‘fetal personhood’ law to call into question the legality of IVF, effectively halting IVF treatment in the state. Despite the fact that more than 85 percent of Americans support IVF, Republicans here in the Senate have now on several occasions blocked our attempts to pass a bill protecting IVF. Apparently, Republicans’ obsession with power and control over women’s bodies and our lives knows few bounds.
Republicans insist they support IVF, but refuse to protect access to IVF. They insist access to contraception is safe, but refuse to codify it into law. Frankly, can anyone take Republicans at their word when they say they won’t enact a nationwide abortion ban if given the opportunity? We can’t, M. President. They’ve shown us who they are, and just how wildly out of step they are with the American people.
As Republicans continue on their anti-freedom, anti-women crusade, Democrats will continue fighting to protect the right to IVF as we work to ensure people can make decisions about their bodies, their lives, and their futures, free from government intrusion. Thank you.
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