GOP Bill in Senate Aims to Find Non-IVF Solutions for Infertility

Senate Republicans have introduced a new legislation on Thursday aimed at reducing the use of in vitro fertilization (IVF) for individuals seeking to have children. Instead, the bill aims to promote solutions to infertility and give couples autonomy in building their families.

The Reproductive Empowerment and Support through Optimal Restoration (RESTORE) Act, led by Sen. Cynthia Hyde-Smith, R-Mo., and Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., seeks to expand access to restorative reproductive medicine for the significant percentage of individuals affected by infertility. The senators claim the legislation will be “cost neutral.”

IVF treatments have been a key point of discussion in reproductive health following a ruling by the Alabama Supreme Court in February regarding frozen embryos created through IVF. The legislation rushed to provide immunity for manufacturers of IVF products in cases where embryos are destroyed.

Democrats are looking to leverage reproductive healthcare as a rallying point in this election year, similar to what happened in the 2022 midterms after a Supreme Court ruling on abortion rights.

The RESTORE Act was introduced on the same day Senate Republicans blocked a vote on the Right To IVF Act, which critics argue would shield the IVF industry from accountability and legal liability.

Senator Hyde-Smith expressed her support for IVF treatments but emphasized the need to address underlying causes of infertility to increase success rates for couples trying to conceive. The RESTORE Act aims to tackle conditions such as endometriosis, adenomyosis, and polycystic ovary syndrome.

The legislation also includes provisions for education on reproductive health, training for medical professionals, and allocation of funds for restorative reproductive medicine.

Senator Lankford highlighted the importance of addressing infertility challenges faced by many couples and the need for alternative options beyond IVF.

The RESTORE Act also includes religious and conscience protections to ensure healthcare providers are not required to offer specific treatments if it goes against their beliefs.