Local members of congress support conflicting bills on reproductive rights

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Eighty democratic members of Congress have cosponsored a bill that provides a statutory right to access assisted reproductive technology, including in vitro fertilization (IVF) after an Alabama State Supreme Court made IVF illegal in the state earlier this month.

The Access to Family Building Act, or H.R. 7056, would pre-empt individual state efforts to limit access to reproductive technology such as IVF and ensure that no parents or doctors are punished for use of the technology.

"Specifically, under the bill, individuals have the right to access assisted reproductive technology, and to retain all rights with respect to the use or disposition of reproductive genetic materials (e.g., eggs or sperm), without prohibitions or unreasonable restrictions," the Congressional Research Service said in their summary of the bill.

"Health care providers and insurers also have the right to provide and cover these services, respectively. The bill does not affect state or local health and safety regulations that achieve their purpose in the least restrictive manner possible. The Department of Justice may bring civil actions against states, localities, or government officials or entities that enact or enforce limitations or requirements that violate this bill. Individuals and health care providers who are affected by violations may also bring civil actions for relief."

Earlier this month, the Alabama Supreme Court issued a ruling declaring that frozen embryos created through IVF are children under state law. Since the ruling, many families and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, across the country have spoken out against that decision.

Locally, the bill is cosponsored by two democratic Indiana congressmen, Frank Mrvan (IN-1) and Andre Carson (IN-7) and four democratic members of congress from Michigan including Elissa Slotkin (MI-7), Hillary Scholten (MI-3), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), and Dan Kildee (MI-8). 

“What is happening in Alabama to restrict women’s health care is direct result of former President Trump’s promise to overturn Roe,” Kildee said. “Congress must act immediately to preserve women’s reproductive freedom, including access to IVF. If extreme Republicans support access to IVF, then they will bring this bill to the floor immediately. Every Michigan family deserves the freedom to decide if, when, and how to build a family.”

On the other side of the issue, 125 House republicans have cosponsored H.R.431, or the Life at Conception Act, which declares that the right to life guaranteed by the Constitution is vested in each human being at all stages of life, including the moment of fertilization, cloning, or other moment at which an individual comes into being.

That bill is cosponsored by Michigan republican members of Congress Lisa McClain (MI-9), John Moolenar (MI-2), Jack Bergman (MI-1), and Bill Huizenga (MI-4), as well as four republican Indiana congressmen James Baird (IN-4), Jim Banks (IN-3), Larry Bucshon (IN-8), and Rudy Yakym (IN-2).