Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.). Photo: Tierney L. Cross/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Senate Republicans on Thursday blocked a bill aimed at ensuring federal protections for in vitro fertilization (IVF), as Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) forced them to take another difficult vote on a hot-button election issue.
Democrats are trying to hold Republicans' feet to the fire on reproductive rights two years after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade — and ahead of the 2024 elections. The GOP is trying to dodge those bullets.
Every Senate Republican this week signed a letter voicing their support for IVF, arguing that Democrats are lying about the GOP's position on the procedure.
🛡️ Republicans have rallied around protecting IVF after the Alabama Supreme Court issued a ruling in Februarythat resulted in clinics pausingthe treatment in the state.
Two Republicans, Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Susan Collins (R-Maine), voted to advance the bill.
Thursday's vote was the latest episode in which Schumer has called votes that drew attention to GOP divisions on issues that Democrats are highlighting in their campaigns.
Last week he brought forward a bill to protect access to contraception at the federal level, and Republicans blocked it.
GOP lawmakers also voted against a bipartisan immigration bill last month, the result of a move by Schumer to clear a path for President Biden's executive order to reduce crossings at the Southwest border.
