ICYMI: Blumenthal Speaks on Senate Floor Calling for Action to Protect the Right to IVF

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – In case you missed it, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) spoke on the Senate Floor urging his colleagues to support the Right to IVF Act, legislation that would increase access to in vitro fertilization (IVF) and establish protections for IVF and other assisted reproductive technology. Blumenthal spoke following a vote to advance the legislation, which was blocked by Senate Republicans.

“Very simply, every one of those families, every American ought to have access to that miracle of life, and yet our Republican colleagues, even though their own constituents would tell them if they were listening about the reasons why IVF should be protected, have acted today, despite their words and their rhetoric, to block IVF protection,” said Blumenthal. “The callousness and cowardice of our Republican colleagues speaks louder than words, and this vote will haunt them. It will haunt, at the very least, their consciences—or it should. We have the courage to stand with the American families who need and deserve IVF.”

Today’s vote on the Right to IVF Act is the second vote the Senate has had on the legislation, after Senate Republicans blocked the legislation in June.

“This scientific miracle is so immensely important, it ought to be nonpolitical, nonpartisan, noncontroversial. There ought to be unanimity. And this vote is the second one. We gave them a second chance to get right on IVF, and they refused,” continued Blumenthal. “I'm angry, I'm disgusted, most important, I'm sad, because this vote was an opportunity to tell American families, we're with you. We stand with you. We know how physically painful IVF is. We know how emotionally painful infertility can be. We know how great families want to build greater families with children who will serve our country, make it greater.”

Today’s remarks come after Blumenthal joined other members of the Senate Democratic Caucus today at a press conference about the Right to IVF Act on the Senate steps, where he held a photo of a Connecticut family who benefitted from IVF. Photos from today’s press conference can be found here.

A video of Blumenthal’s remarks can be found here. A transcript of Blumenthal’s full speech is available below.

Senator Richard Blumenthal: Actions always speak louder than words. For all their words, our Republican colleagues have acted today in a way that will speak for years and longer.

It will speak to Lisa, a constituent of mine in Connecticut. And I ask my Republican colleagues to listen to Lisa in what she shared with me after the Alabama Supreme Court Ruling, and before she and her husband became parents to a healthy, happy baby girl as a result of IVF. She said, and I quote her, “If a woman is willing to go through the physical, emotional, and financial toll of IVF treatment to bring a new life into the world, you'd better believe she is going to love that baby more than anything one can imagine.” And we need more love like that in the world.

For Lisa, that Alabama Supreme Court Ruling banning IVF treatment was “heartbreaking and infuriating.” Families like Lisa's wouldn't exist if it weren't for IVF.

I ask my Republican colleagues to listen to Kim and Tina, who were married in 2013 and immediately knew they wanted to start a family in Connecticut. As a gay couple, they needed to rely on reproductive technology, and they were forced to meet standards that their straight friends never encountered. And IVF worked for them. They're now proud parents to twins whom they call “the greatest gifts of our lives—Interested in politics and government, trumpets and sailing, their gifts to their community, their friends and their school.”

Listening to parents who have gone through the heartbreak and pain of infertility and who have found this miracle of IVF is not limited to Kim and Tina and Lisa. It is all of America who knows these stories in their own lives. Every American knows a couple that has tried year after year, and finally, if they are really lucky and can afford it, discovers the miracle of IVF.

Very simply, every one of those families, every American ought to have access to that miracle of life, and yet our Republican colleagues, even though their own constituents would tell them if they were listening about the reasons why IVF should be protected, have acted today, despite their words and their rhetoric, to block IVF protection.

This scientific miracle is so immensely important, it ought to be nonpolitical, nonpartisan, noncontroversial. There ought to be unanimity. And this vote is the second one. I believe in second chances. If we had wanted to be strictly political about this bill, we could have said, “Well, no second chance here. We're going to take you on that first vote,” because that would be the one politically advantageous. We gave them a second chance to get right on IVF, and they refused.

I'm angry, I'm disgusted, most important, I'm sad, because this vote was an opportunity to tell American families, we're with you. We stand with you. We know how physically painful IVF is. We know how emotionally painful infertility can be. We know how great families want to build greater families with children who will serve our country, make it greater.

The callousness and cowardice of our Republican colleagues speaks louder than words, and this vote will haunt them. It will haunt, at the very least, their consciences—or it should. We have the courage to stand with the American families who need and deserve IVF.

Thank you, Mr. President. I yield the floor.

-30-