Senate Democrats on Wednesday shot down a Republican-led bill from Sens. Ted Cruz (R‑TX) and Katie Britt (R‑AL) to protect access to in vitro fertilization.
Cruz sought unanimous consent to approve the measure in a bid to blunt Democratic-led legislation on the medical procedure that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D‑NY) will hold a recorded vote for on Thursday.
Democrats’ proposal, which will require 60 votes to overcome a GOP filibuster, is also expected to fail.
“We’re the ones that want to protect IVF,” Cruz said on the Senate floor. “Understand we could have passed strong federal legislation today, but Senate Democrats don’t want a protection of IVF. They want a campaign issue.”
The GOP bill, dubbed the IVF Protection Act, is far more narrowly tailored than that of Democrats over 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.
The Democratic bill would enshrine a right to IVF into federal law but would not …