Republicans propose legislation to advance ‘restorative reproductive rights.
Senate Republicans, led by Sens. Cindy Hyde-Smith and James Lankford, are introducing a bill titled the Reproductive Empowerment and Support through Optimal Restoration Act (RESTORE Act). The bill emphasizes alternative approaches to addressing infertility other than in vitro fertilization (IVF) by focusing on restorative reproductive medicine, defined as treatments intended to “restore the normal physiology and anatomy of the human reproductive system.” Additionally, the RESTORE Act seeks to prevent discrimination against healthcare providers who opt out of providing assisted reproductive technology like IVY. The approach proposed intends to utilize existing Title X funding for training in restorative reproductive methods. This legislative move comes amidst growing debates and legal uncertainties surrounding IVF, especially following a significant Alabama Supreme Court ruling which temporarily affected IVF services in the state. Although the state legislature in Alabama later provided immunity to providers, the situation underscored the complexity of reproductive rights discussions in the U.S.
Senate Republicans are introducing a bill advocating alternative approaches to in vitro fertilization by promoting medical services targeting underlying factors of infertility in women.
The Reproductive Empowerment and Support through Optimal Restoration Act is co-sponsored by Sens. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) and James Lankford (R-OK).
The bill aims to expand access to restorative reproductive medicine, which is defined as any approach that aims to “restore the normal physiology and anatomy of the human reproductive system.”
It would also “prohibit discrimination against healthcare providers who do not participate in assisted reproductive technology,” such as IVF.
Furthermore, the RESTORE Act would use existing funding opportunities in Title X to promote medical training in restorative reproductive medicine, according to the release.
After the Alabama Supreme Court’s ruling, IVF has become central to the national reproductive rights debate.
As IVF services were halted due to legal concerns, the state legislature later granted providers civil and criminal immunity.
“I strongly support treatments such as IVF, which have helped so many families experience the miracle of life,” Hyde-Smith said in a statement. “Healing the actual causes of infertility will only help increase the success rate for couples trying to conceive.”
While supporting the court’s ruling, Republicans also denounced its fallout and have introduced initiatives to ensure access to IVF services.
“IVF is an incredible scientific advancement that allows families to bring life into the world,” said Lankford. “But IVF is very expensive and shouldn’t be the only option available to families.”
The RESTORE Act does not oppose IVF services, but “prioritizes addressing underlying causes of infertility to help families to bring the miracle of life into the world.”
“IVF has always had its own issues. There are people that just have a concern and it’s typically the way that it’s done,” Lankford told NOTUS. “There are so many embryos created and frozen that are then abandoned, that becomes an issue for someone — just a moral, ethical issue.”
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On Wednesday, Democrats blocked Republicans’ IVF Protection Act, arguing it does not go far enough to protect IVF access, and Thursday, they blocked the Democratic-led bill, the Right to IVF Act, over religious liberty concerns.
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