Senator Tim Kaine advocates for family building act amidst IVF concerns

WASHINGTON D.C. (WSET) — On Tuesday, Senator Tim Kaine (D-Virginia) cosponsored the Access to Family Building Act, legislation to protect Americans’ right to access in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and other assisted reproductive technology services.

Sen. Kaine’s announcement comes after a ruling by the Alabama Supreme Court that has already led to restricted access to IVF.

“The Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade has opened the floodgates for draconian restrictions on reproductive freedom. Americans deserve the freedom to decide whether, when, and how to start or build their families—without interference by the government. This legislation would help us codify that right by safeguarding access to IVF, and unfortunately, its passage is more important than ever.”

Sen. Kaine said 12 million people around the world have been born because of IVF and other assisted reproductive technology services. The first IVF birth in the United States was in Norfolk in 1981, according to Kaine.

Kaine has previously been a vocal advocate for reproductive rights, including the introduction of the Reproductive Freedom For All Act, a bipartisan bill to codify the essential holdings of Roe v. Wade and related cases protecting women’s rights to access abortion and contraception.