Republicans blocks Senate IVF bill, despite Trump's backing; Joe Biden slams move as 'outrageous'

The US Senate has failed to pass legislation to create a national right to in vitro fertilisation (IVF), with Republicans blocking the effort for a second time this year. The vote was 51-44, falling short of the 60 votes needed. Only two Republican senators, Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, supported the bill.

Vice President Kamala Harris criticized the Senate's decision, saying Republicans have shown they will not protect access to fertility treatments. President Joe Biden also expressed his disappointment, calling the situation "outrageous and unacceptable."

Democrats, led by Senator Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, accused Republicans of hypocrisy. Duckworth pointed out that many Republicans claim to support IVF but refuse to vote for legislation guaranteeing its availability. “They say they support IVF—here you go, vote on this," Duckworth said.

The push for this bill gained strength after the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos are considered children. This led several IVF clinics in Alabama to suspend services until the state legislature stepped in. Democrats emphasized dangers to reproductive rights, especially after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022.

Republicans argued that states should make their own policies, calling the bill a political move. Senator John Thune of South Dakota noted that Republicans do support IVF but are concerned about too much federal involvement.

In a recent development, Donald Trump told NBC News that IVF treatments would be covered by insurance under his administration. “We’re going to be mandating that the insurance company pay,” he said. This proposal caught some of his advisers by surprise.