HARTFORD– In the wake of Alabama’s State Supreme Court ruling that frozen embryos created during the IVF process are “children” under state law, U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) on Tuesday joined the growing support for U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Patty Murray (D-WA)’s legislation to protect access to in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and other assisted reproductive technology (ART).

The Access to Family Building Act—which would establish a statutory right to access IVF for all Americans who need it to start or grow a family—now has 46 Senate cosponsors, despite Senate Republicans blocking the legislation from being passed last week.

“Republicans spent decades packing the courts with right-wing judges and moving anti-choice legislation that would dismantle reproductive rights,” said Murphy. “Now that they’ve accomplished that exact goal, they’re trying to distance themselves from the devastating consequences. This is a coordinated strategy by Donald Trump and Republicans, but the majority of Americans do not want judges and politicians making decisions about women’s bodies. I’m proud to support the Access to Family Building Act to defend against these attacks and safeguard access to reproductive care.”

“What has become devastatingly and tragically clear is that the Republican Party's animosity towards women's health and women's rights doesn't stop at abortion,” said Blumenthal. “This measure very simply guarantees the right for women and families everywhere -- in Alabama and Connecticut, in every state in this country -- to access the fertility care they need to bring children into the world.”

In addition to Duckworth, Murray and original cosponsors Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), the Access to Family Building Act is now co-sponsored by U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Laphonza Butler (D-CA), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Tom Carper (D-DE), Bob Casey (D-PA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Dick Durbin (D-IL), John Fetterman (D-PA), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Angus King (I-ME), Amy Klobucher (D-MN), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Ed Markey (D-MA), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Tina Smith (D-MN), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Jon Tester (D-MT), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark Warner (D-VA), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

Last week, Duckworth led a group of Senate Democrats, including Senator Blumenthal, in calling for the bill’s passage through unanimous consent, but U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) objected, blocking the effort.

The text of the legislation can be found here.

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