Schumer expected to reup vote on IVF proposal – Washington Examiner
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is planning to hold a second vote on a bill concerning in vitro fertilization (IVF), which closely resembles a proposal made by former President Donald Trump. This strategic move aims to place Republicans under scrutiny regarding reproductive issues as the 2024 elections approach. Earlier this year, Senate Democrats introduced this bill in response to Trump’s call for mandated free access to IVF, which he presented during a presidential debate to counter allegations that his potential presidency would negatively impact fertility care.
The upcoming vote is expected to take place within the next two weeks on the Senate floor. Schumer’s office has not commented on the issue. Many Republicans are skeptical about Trump’s IVF proposal, expressing concerns over potential high costs and have not committed to enforcing it should he be elected. This initiative is part of a larger Democratic effort to highlight reproductive healthcare leading up to the November elections, following a previous attempt to advance the legislation that failed to reach the necessary 60 votes in June.
Schumer expected to put GOP on defense by reupping vote on IVF proposal
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is planning a second vote on an IVF bill that resembles a proposal from former President Donald Trump, a strategy to put Republicans in the hot seat over reproductive politics ahead of the election.
The New York senator is planning a secondary vote on a bill that Senate Democrats offered up earlier this summer in an attempt to capitalize on recent comments from Trump, who has called for mandating free access to in vitro fertilization.
The effort is expected to take place on the Senate floor over the next two weeks, according to reporting from Axios. Schumer’s office did not respond to a request for comment from the Washington Examiner.
During Tuesday’s presidential debate, Trump pitched himself as a “leader” on IVF. He has attempted to counter attacks from Democrats who claim a second Trump presidency would hurt fertility care, going as far as to pledge free IVF treatments that would be paid for by insurance companies or the federal government.
Many Republicans are pushing back against his proposal and have expressed skepticism and concern about the high cost of such a policy. Senate and House GOP leaders have been noncommittal about implementing Trump’s plan if he is elected.
The move is part of a broader push by Senate Democrats to bring attention to reproductive healthcare in the months ahead of the November elections. In June, the legislation failed to advance in a 48-47 procedural vote. The measure needed 60 votes to advance. Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Susan Collins (R-ME) were the only Republicans who voted for the bill.
The Right to IVF Act was introduced by Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), who used IVF to have her two children. The legislation would make the treatment more accessible through insurance and for military and veterans. Senate Republicans attempted to advance a proposal of their own that would discourage states from banning IVF in June, but Senate Democrats blocked it.
The GOP bill, dubbed the IVF Protection Act, was far more narrow than Democrats’ proposal due to religious liberty concerns. It would strip states of Medicaid funding if they prohibit IVF, a move that gives states broad discretion and does not bar them from passing restrictions on the fertility procedure.
Schumer has held similar “show votes” over the last few months to bring issues including abortion rights, the border, and gun control to the spotlight ahead of the election. Republicans have slammed these votes as partisan moves by Democrats in a highly competitive election year.
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