WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Rep. Susan Wild touted her bill that would protect access to in-vitro fertilization at the federal level, on a day designated to bring awareness to fertility issues.
World In Vitro Fertilization Day was recognized Thursday to shed light on the struggles some people experience with conceiving a child.
Wild marked World IVF Day in Washington with a news conference with the Democratic Women’s Caucus, Pro Choice Caucus and House Democratic leadership.
"It is more critical than ever that we stand up and we speak out about the need to protect IVF."
Congresswoman Susan Wild, Pennsylvania's 7th District
"It is the day to say that it is more critical than ever that we stand up and we speak out about the need to protect IVF, otherwise known as in-vitro fertilization, and other assisted reproductive technologies for the thousands of Americans who rely on them to grow their families,” Wild said.
Issue not partisan, Wild says
Wild spoke about her “Right to IVF Act,” which would codify the right to access IVF and related technologies at the federal level.
Wild said the catalyst for the bill was the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization case to let states decide on abortion.
"I promised every person who I spoke to about IVF ... that I would exhaust every possible option to protect access to fertility treatments that help families achieve their dream of parenthood.”
U.S. Rep. Susan Wild
"In January of this year, my exact fears came to fruition when the Alabama Supreme Court made the heartbreaking decision to classify frozen embryos as people throwing the future of IVF across the state into disarray and forcing families that were in using the procedure in the middle of the process to halt their time sensitive treatments in the days,” Wild said.
Wild said the issue is not partisan, and explained that people on both sides of the aisle suffer from fertility issues.
"I promised every person who I spoke to about IVF, from my female friends to cancer patients to veterans with combat injuries or those who are deployed to states with fewer reproductive freedoms, that I would exhaust every possible option to protect access to fertility treatments that help families achieve their dream of parenthood,” she said.
Wild filed a discharge petition to force the bill to be voted on the House floor. The petition has 155 of the 218 signatures it needs to move forward.