Trump’s IVF Ideas Were Put to a Vote; Republicans Rejected Them

That IVF protection bill, S.4445, could come up again in the Senate.

BY DAVID DAYEN
SEPTEMBER 3, 2024

Donald Trump, in an attempt to reduce the significant gender gap in the presidential election and neutralize one of the biggest Republican liabilities, unleashed a surprise promise last week. If elected, he said he would either have the government pay directly for in vitro fertilization treatments or mandate that insurance companies cover it. Currently, relatively few insurers cover IVF and the government provides no assistance for a procedure that can cost around $20,000 per cycle.

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But Trump’s fellow Republicans blocked the Right to IVF Act back in June. Needing 60 votes to end debate, S.4445 received 48 votes, with 47 opposed, mostly along party lines. Only two Republicans, Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), voted for the bill. Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH), Trump’s running mate, voted against it.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) voted against the bill for a particular reason: so he could file a motion to reconsider that would allow him to bring it back up in the future. This is a common Senate leader tactic.

In other words, now that Trump, the Republican standard-bearer, has said that he wants to mandate IVF treatments for insurers, Schumer could bring that bill back up for a vote as early as next week, when the Senate returns to session.

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