WASHINGTON – A four-member House Republican group on Wednesday sent a letter of protest to the Biden administration. policy to expand access to in vitro fertilization or IVF for veterans.
The letterThe letter, addressed to Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough, was signed by Reps. Matt Rosendale of Montana, Mary Miller of Illinois, Josh Brechin of Oklahoma and Bob Good of Virginia, who said they had “many ethical concerns and questions.” about politics.
“IVF is morally dubious and should not be subsidized by the American taxpayer. IVF treatment is known to result in a surplus of embryos after the best ones have been tested and selected. These embryos are then frozen – at significant cost to the parents – abandoned or cruelly discarded,” – MPs wrote.
Republicans have argued that the VA’s policy expanding veterans’ access to IVF would be harmful to embryos, which they say are “humane.”
“Parents’ uncertainty about what to do with extra embryos and their tendency to leave them frozen for many years instead of discarding them point to their inherent humanity. The new VA policy is shocking not only morally, but politically and legally,” the four Republicans added.
They asked McDonough a series of questions, including what the Department of Veterans Affairs plans to “do with the excess embryos,” where it will store the embryos, “who will pay for storage,” how much it will cost, and where it will be. The VA receives legal authority for its decision.
The department explains the changes it has implemented on their website: “VA is expanding access to IVF services soon. Before today’s expansion of care, the VA was only allowed to provide IVF services to Veterans who were legally married and could produce their own gametes (both eggs and sperm) in that relationship. As part of this expansion of care, the VA will offer IVF benefits to qualified Veterans regardless of marital status and, for the first time, will allow the use of donor eggs, sperm and embryos.
The VA said in a news release that expanding access is “a critical step to help veterans who are unable to produce their own sperm or eggs due to service-connected injuries and health conditions.”
“Raising a family is a wonderful thing, and I’m proud that the VA will soon help more veterans have that opportunity,” McDonough said in the release. “Expanding this care has long been a priority for us, and we are working urgently to ensure that eligible unmarried Veterans, same-sex married Veterans and Veterans in need of donors have access to IVF across the country. as soon as possible.”
The Republicans’ letter coincides with this time heated national debate Statewide access to the IVF procedure has been threatened after a ruling in Alabama found embryos to be human. Some Republicans were divided after the verdict adoption of a legislative act State level to protect IVF and others blocking measures will provide federal protection for this practice.
There is President Joe Biden and other Democrats they hurried to introduce themselves As advocates of keeping IVF legal. They introduced measures aimed at protecting the practice in the House and Senate, and some lawmakers even invited guests affected by the Alabama decision to attend Biden’s State of the Union address this month.
Zoe Richards contributed.