National Infertility Awareness Week

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of National Infertility Awareness Week, which ran from April 24-30. The CDC recognizes infertility as the inability to get pregnant after one year of trying. It affects both men and women, and there are a variety of causes. Resolve, the National Infertility Association, estimates that it affects approximately 10 percent of the population.

For couples dealing with infertility, there are a number of options. They can choose to adopt, or try to conceive through lUI, medications, or assisted reproductive technology like in vitro fertilization (IVF). Although none of these methods is guaranteed, improvements to technologies and treatments in recent years have increased the likelihood of successful therapy.

Not all families have access to this technology. Under present law, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is expressly prohibited from covering IVF for women and men who have served our country in uniform. This is especially galling considering that many of these veterans are facing infertility as a result of injuries incurred during their service. That is why Senator Murray and I introduced the Women Veterans and Families Health Services Act--to repeal this outdated policy and specifically authorize provision of fertility treatment. Our bill also provides other important resources to military families, including cryopreservation of gametes and adoption assistance.

As we recognize National Infertility Awareness Week, it is my sincere hope that we not lose sight of Americans experiencing infertility. And it is long past time that Congress authorizes VA to cover fertility treatments, including IVF to wounded veterans, so they can achieve their dreams of starting families.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source