Support and work to pass federal legislation establishing a right to access assistive reproductive care, including in vitro fertilization (IVF), as well as the right to use or dispose of reproductive genetic material, and allow the Department of Justice to pursue civil action against states that block this right.

Sen. Tammy Duckworth was blocked by Republicans on Wednesday from unanimously passing legislation to establish a right to access assistive reproductive care like in vitro fertilization -- a push spurred by a recent Alabama Supreme Court ruling that embryos are children, which has upended IVF in the state. ... Duckworth's bill would also establish the right to use or dispose of "reproductive genetic material" and allow the Justice Department to pursue civil action against states who block this right.

Duckworth committed to supporting and advancing federal legislation that protects access to IVF and other assistive reproductive care, guarantees rights regarding reproductive genetic material, and provides for DOJ enforcement against state obstruction.

Republican blocks Senate Democrats' push to pass IVF protections nationwide - ABC News
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Sen. Tammy Duckworth was blocked by Republicans on Wednesday from unanimously passing legislation to establish a right to access assistive reproductive care like in vitro fertilization ... Duckworth's bill would also establish the right to use or dispose of "reproductive genetic material" and allow the Justice Department to pursue civil action against states who block this right. Duckworth has been trying to advance a similar version of this bill for years, but it has previously faced challenges from Republicans.

Duckworth pushed for legislation establishing a federal right to access IVF and reproductive genetic material, and enabling DOJ action against blocking states.

Republican blocks Senate Democrats' push to pass IVF protections nationwide - ABC News
secondary · news_report · model gpt-4.1

Sen. Tammy Duckworth was blocked by Republicans on Wednesday from unanimously passing legislation to establish a right to access assistive reproductive care like in vitro fertilization... Duckworth's bill would also establish the right to use or dispose of "reproductive genetic material" and allow the Justice Department to pursue civil action against states who block this right.

Tammy Duckworth committed to passing federal legislation to protect access to IVF and related reproductive genetic material, including legal recourse against states restricting these rights.

Republican blocks Senate Democrats' push to pass IVF protections nationwide - ABC News
secondary · news_report · model gpt-4.1

The Senate roll call for vote 242 on September 17, 2024 shows cloture on the motion to proceed to S. 4445, the Right to IVF Act, was rejected by a 51-44 vote.

Duckworth's nationwide IVF bill did not advance in the Senate, which is concrete evidence that the core federal legislation was blocked rather than enacted.

never same_term

U.S. Senate Roll Call Vote 118th Congress - 2nd Session
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Duckworth joined Warren and Schumer, along with 12 other Senate Democrats, in pressing the EEOC chair over efforts to weaken a rule affirming employment protections for workers undergoing fertility treatments, including IVF.

As of early May 2026, Duckworth was still actively pushing related IVF protections, but this was advocacy rather than passage of the requested federal legislation.

unresolved same_term A for effort

Duckworth Joins Warren, Schumer in Pressing Head of Employment Protections Commission on Attacks on Workers Undergoing IVF
secondary · model gpt-5.4-mini · confidence 83%