Molinaro becomes first House Republican to back IVF protection

New York Rep. Marc Molinaro on Thursday became the first Republican congressman to support a bill protecting access to in vitro fertilization.

Mr. Molinaro cosponsored the Access to Family Building Act with Democratic Rep. Susan Wild of Pennsylvania. Companion legislation was introduced in the Senate by Democratic Sens. Patty Murray of Washington and Tammy Duckworth of Illinois.

“I was troubled by and said at the time that I opposed Alabama’s ruling to limit IVF. I’m a parent who has personal experience with IVF and support all women and families who choose IVF to bring life into this world. Protecting it is just commonsense,” he said in a statement.

The bill would create a statutory right to access IVF and other fertility treatment.

This legislation comes after the Alabama Supreme Court ruled last month that frozen embryos created through in vitro fertilization are considered children, paving the way for wrongful death lawsuits. The decision put a pause on many of the fertility treatments.

Republicans, including presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump, have spoken out against the ruling. Now Mr. Molinaro is putting his name on how to handle the sensitive situation.

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, Florida Republican, was reported to be a cosponsor of the bill last month but withdrew her name.

“There are amendments that need to take place before I decide to sponsor,” she wrote on X last month.  “And thus, my team will be working to come to an agreement to get bipartisan legislation on the table.”