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
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. 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
secondary · model gpt-5.4-mini · confidence 98%

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 | U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth of Illinois
secondary · model gpt-5.4-mini · confidence 83%

Congress.gov lists Sen. Tammy Duckworth as sponsor, introduced 01/18/2024; latest action was referral to HELP Committee, and the bill status is Introduced.

Duckworth introduced the Access to Family Building Act, but Congress.gov shows it did not advance beyond introduction/referral, so the promised federal right was not enacted through this bill.

never same_term A for effort

S.3612 - Access to Family Building Act, 118th Congress
secondary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 98%

The bill text would create an individual statutory right to access ART, retain rights over use or disposition of reproductive genetic materials, and authorize Attorney General civil enforcement.

The introduced bill closely matches the promise’s substance, including IVF/ART access, genetic-material disposition rights, and DOJ civil action authority, but it remained proposed legislation.

never same_term A for effort

Text - S.3612 - Access to Family Building Act
secondary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 99%

Congress.gov lists Duckworth as sponsor of S.4445; latest action on 09/17/2024 was failed cloture on the motion to proceed, 51-44, and status remained Introduced.

Duckworth sponsored the broader Right to IVF Act, but the Senate did not invoke cloture and the bill never became law in the 118th Congress.

never same_term A for effort

S.4445 - Right to IVF Act, 118th Congress
secondary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 99%

Vote 197 was cloture on the motion to proceed to S.4445. Result: rejected; required 3/5, vote count 48 yeas, 47 nays, 5 not voting. Duckworth voted Yea.

The first Senate cloture attempt on the Right to IVF Act failed, providing official evidence that the federal statutory IVF-right legislation was blocked despite Duckworth voting to advance it.

never same_term A for effort

U.S. Senate Roll Call Vote 118th Congress - Vote 197
secondary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 99%

Vote 242 was cloture on the motion to proceed to S.4445 upon reconsideration. Result: rejected; required 3/5, vote count 51 yeas, 44 nays, 5 not voting. Duckworth voted Yea.

A second cloture attempt also failed, confirming the core legislation was not passed in 2024 even after another formal Senate vote.

never same_term A for effort

U.S. Senate Roll Call Vote 118th Congress - 2nd Session
secondary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 99%

Congress.gov lists Duckworth as sponsor of S.2035, introduced 06/11/2025; latest action was referral to HELP Committee, and status is Introduced.

Duckworth continued advancing related IVF-rights legislation in the 119th Congress, but as of the cited Congress.gov status it had not passed either chamber or become law.

unresolved same_term A for effort

S.2035 - Protect IVF Act, 119th Congress
secondary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 95%

Congress.gov shows S.3612 was introduced by Sen. Duckworth on 2024-01-18. The text creates a statutory right to access assisted reproductive technology, preserve rights over reproductive genetic materials, and authorize Attorney General civil enforcement against conflicting state or local restrictions.

The bill language closely matches the promise, but it was only introduced and not enacted.

never same_term A for effort

Text - S.3612 - Access to Family Building Act
secondary · model gpt-5.4-mini · confidence 99%

Congress.gov lists Duckworth as sponsor, notes referral to the Senate HELP Committee on introduction, and keeps the bill status at Introduced with no further legislative advancement shown on the bill page.

Duckworth introduced the requested IVF-rights bill, but it did not advance to passage or become law.

never same_term A for effort

S.3612 - Access to Family Building Act, 118th Congress
secondary · model gpt-5.4-mini · confidence 98%

The Senate roll call for vote 197 shows cloture on the motion to proceed to S.4445 was rejected 48-47. Duckworth voted Yea.

The first Senate attempt to advance the Right to IVF Act failed, so the legislation did not move forward.

never same_term A for effort

U.S. Senate Roll Call Vote 118th Congress - Vote 197
secondary · model gpt-5.4-mini · confidence 99%

The Senate roll call for vote 242 shows cloture on the motion to proceed to S.4445 was rejected again, this time 51-44. Duckworth again voted Yea.

A second formal vote to advance the bill also failed, confirming the proposed federal IVF-rights legislation was blocked in the 118th Congress.

never same_term A for effort

U.S. Senate Roll Call Vote 118th Congress - 2nd Session
secondary · model gpt-5.4-mini · confidence 99%

Congress.gov lists Duckworth as sponsor of S.2035, introduced on 2025-06-11, with the latest action being referral to the Senate HELP Committee and the status remaining Introduced.

Duckworth continued pushing related IVF-rights legislation in the next Congress, but the official status still showed only introduction and committee referral as of the cited record.

unresolved later_term A for effort

S.2035 - Protect IVF Act, 119th Congress
secondary · model gpt-5.4-mini · confidence 95%