Jul 24, 2024 - Politics & Policy

House Democrats to launch IVF discharge petition

Andrew Solender

Rep. Susan Wild, wearing a gray suit with her hand on her chin. — Rep. Susan Wild. Photo: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

Rep. Susan Wild (D-Pa.) is launching a long-shot effort to force the House to vote on a bill to codify the right to in vitro fertilization services nationwide.

Why it matters: The effort, which Axios first reported was under consideration last month, would put Republicans on the spot on an issue that has been particularly damaging to their party.

Driving the news: Wild's office confirmed to Axios that she plans to launch a discharge petition on the Access to Family Building Act, which would provide a statutory right to assisted reproductive technology.

The bill, which would also allow the Justice Department to sue states for restricting IVF access, is notable because it has multiple Republican co-sponsors.
After an Alabama Supreme Court ruling that froze access to IVF in the state, Republicans have scrambled to avoid appearing anti-IVF.

By the numbers: The petition would require 218 signatures, meaning at least a handful of Republicans would have to sign on even if all Democrats do.

But Republicans have so far abstained from signing onto any Democratic-led discharge petitions this congressional session.
A similar discharge petition to protect access to contraception has failed to garner any GOP signatures since it was launched in June.

Go deeper: IVF and egg freezing: Numbers jumped in 2022

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House Democrats to launch IVF discharge petition

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