U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz led Senate Republicans on Tuesday in blocking a bill that would have ensured access to in vitro fertilization nationwide.
All Republicans except Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Mukowski of Alaska voted against the bill, shortly after former President Donald Trump said he was a “leader” on IVF protections in his debate with Vice President Kamala Harris. Trump said he also wanted to protect IVF nationwide. However, Republicans voted against the measure.
“Senate Republicans put politics first and families last again today by blocking the Right to IVF Act for the second time since June,” said Emilia Rowland, national press secretary for the Democratic National Committee.
Cruz, who was one of the most vocal opponents of the bill, called it an “empty show vote.” He said the bill was put to vote because Democrats knew Republicans would vote “no” so they could attack them for denying the popular treatment to families wanting to have children.
According to the Houston Chronicle, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Shumer acknowledged in a letter to Democrats he intended to force a vote because Trump said he intended to make IVF treatments free. Sen. JD Vance, Trump’s running mate, voted against the measure earlier this year and wasn’t present this month.
Cruz, on its part, said he was an “unequivocal supporter of IVF,” but said the Democrats’ bill was a backdoor to expand abortion rights and said he had a more serious bill related to IVF. However, Democrats argued Cruz’s bill didn’t specify whether embryos should be treated the same as breathing people. This small loophole could still be used to shut down clinics.
“It would still allow states to regulate IVF out of existence,” said Sen. Patty Murray of Washington.
The push for IVF protection started earlier this year after the Alabama supreme court ruled that frozen embryos can be considered children. This forced several clinics in the state to suspend their procedures until the state legislature enacted a law to protect the clinics.
Abortion and reproductive rights are a weak point for Cruz in his re-election campaign. His challenger, U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, has attacked Cruz, saying he supports reproductive rights and that he voted for the bill Cruz blocked.
“I proudly support this bill, and in the Senate, I will always fight to protect IVF,” he said in a statement.
