Recognizing National Infertility Awareness Week

Floor Speech

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Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of National Infertility Awareness Week. In the United States, infertility impacts at least 1 in 8 couples.

The impact of infertility is devastating for people who are trying to build a family and can take a serious toll on their mental and emotional health. Many people face difficulty in accessing or affording treatments. Infertility can impact anyone, and for many people the underlying cause is never known.

Infertility has a serious impact on everyone, but it can be particularly challenging for men and woman in the military and our veterans. Studies have shown that among veterans, infertility is nearly twice as prevalent as it is among the general population. This can be for a variety of factors including the significant stress that members of the military are under, exposure to environmental toxins, and other hazards of their service to our country. In 2021, Blue Star Families issued its annual Military Family Lifestyle Survey. The survey found that 67 percent of military families have experienced at least one family building challenge in their lifetime.

This week, I ask all of my colleagues in Congress to support our military and veterans who are struggling to have a child.

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