Senate Republicans Say They Have an Alternative to Protecting IVF

Anti-abortion groups consider this medical technology a “moral” and “ethical” alternative to IVF.

Cindy Hyde-Smith
Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith is introducing a new IVF-related bill with Sen. James Lankford. Rogelio V. Solis/AP

As Senate Democrats prepare a largely symbolic vote on a bill that would create federal protections for in vitro fertilization and other fertility treatments, Republicans are introducing a bill to promote a new medical technology that anti-abortion groups say is a “moral” and “ethical” alternative to IVF, NOTUS has learned.

“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,” Sen. James Lankford, who introduced the bill along with Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, 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.”

Lankford said that “no one’s opposed to IVF.” But he added that he and Hyde-Smith decided to introduce the legislation the same day as the IVF vote because “we want the people to also think about the bigger issue of infertility while we’re talking about IVF.”