Johnson, Trump champion IVF along with other Republicans

House Speaker Mike Johnson on Friday teamed up with former President Donald Trump and dozens of other congressional Republicans in supporting in vitro fertilization following the Alabama Supreme Court’s ruling that spurred a halt in fertility treatments.

The aftermath of the bombshell last week left conservatives scrambling to get the message out that while they don’t support abortion, they do support IVF. The National Republican Senatorial Committee urged its candidates to defend IVF amid Democrats’ aim to use it and abortion as huge issues this election year.

Mr. Johnson, Louisiana Republican, has made clear his position as a pro-life Christian but joined Mr. Trump and a slew of Republicans to decry the court’s ruling that frozen embryos created through IVF are considered children, sparking concerns of wrongful death lawsuits.

“I believe the life of every single child has inestimable dignity and value. That is why I support IVF treatment, which has been a blessing for many moms and dads who have struggled with fertility,” Mr. Johnson said in a statement. “I applaud the Alabama Legislature for immediately working to protect life and ensure that IVF treatment is available to families throughout the state.”

The Alabama Legislature has been at work on clarifying language that the procedure would be spared from the high court’s decision. A Democratic lawmaker introduced legislation that wouldn’t consider fertilized eggs stored outside a uterus as a human under state law.

Meanwhile, Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall declared he wouldn’t use the court’s ruling to prosecute IVF families or providers.

After the Alabama ruling and the Republican rush to stand with IVF,  the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee targeted Mr. Johnson and over 120 of his colleagues for co-sponsoring the Life At Conception Act, which makes no exception for IVF.

“The Life at Conception Act would also impose similar restrictions on IVF and fertility treatments as the Alabama ruling at the national level,” the fundraising arm said.

The legislation was introduced in January 2023 and has made little headway in Congress. And while Mr. Johnson largely controls what bills come to the House floor, it’s unlikely the legislation, sponsored by Rep. Alex Mooney, West Virginia Republican, will come for a vote.

When pressed on his IVF views by Fox News’ Shannon Bream in November, the speaker said that while he’s a pro-life conservative, he supported fertilization treatments.

“I am personally pro-life, yeah. No, no, of course not. No… that’s something that’s blessed a lot of families who have problems with fertility; of course, that’s a great thing,” Mr. Johnson said. “I would support that.”

Mr. Trump took the same tack, promoting IVF during his rally Friday in Rock Hill, South Carolina, a day before the GOP primary.

“Like the overwhelming majority of Americans, including the vast majority of Republican conservatives, Christians and pro-life Americans, I strongly support the availability of IVF for couples who are trying to have a precious little beautiful baby,” he said.