Bernie Sanders Slams Republicans After IVF Package Blocked: 'Not Aware Of Any State In This Country That Is Telling Men What To Do Or Not To With Their Own Bodies'

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) has slammed Republicans after Senate Republicans thwarted a legislative package that aimed to safeguard access to in vitro fertilization (IVF), dealing a blow to the Democrats’ ongoing campaign for reproductive rights.

What Happened: Sanders took to X, formerly Twitter, and contrasted the state of women’s rights with those of men in the United States.

The senator said, “We hear a lot of talk about freedom from the Republican Party. Freedom for who?”

“I am not aware of any state in this country that is telling men what to do or not to with their own bodies.”

The vote, which took place on Thursday, saw 48 senators in favor and 47 opposed, falling short of the 60 votes required to advance the measure. Only two Republicans, Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), supported the legislation, CBS News reported.

The issue gained national attention after the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that embryos are to be considered children under state law, leading to a halt in fertility treatments. The legislation, known as the Right to IVF Act, is composed of four bills, including measures to expand access to IVF treatments for veterans and reduce costs for Americans.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) criticized the Republican opposition, stating, “Now that the hard right has finished eliminating Roe, they’re setting their sights on IVF.”

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Why It Matters: The issue of reproductive rights has been a contentious one, particularly in light of the recent overturning of Roe v. Wade. Former President Donald Trump’s pride in this decision was criticized by Vice President Kamala Harris, who accused him of depriving women of their rights.

President Joe Biden warned of potential voter backlash in the 2024 elections due to Trump’s role in overturning Roe v. Wade. The recent Senate votes are part of the Democrats’ efforts to highlight reproductive rights ahead of the November elections, while Trump has also voiced concern that Republicans’ stance on abortion has hurt them. The former president said that the GOP has never learned how to address the issue.

Photo by Joseph Sohm on Shutterstock

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This story was generated using Benzinga Neuro and edited by Shivdeep Dhaliwal