A measure from Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-Illinois) – the Access to Family Building Act – was pushed by Democrats this week as a response to a recent ruling from the Alabama Supreme Court that said frozen embryos are considered people who are covered under the state's Wrongful Death of a Minor Act.
Duckworth and other Democrats claim in vitro fertilization (IVF) is under assault. But Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Mississippi) says that's not true – and that Democrats are using this issue for political purposes this election year.
"[The ruling] did not ban IVF, nor has any state banned IVF," Hyde-Smith told Washington Watch on Wednesday. "I am a total supporter of [IVF]. My nephew and his wife have three beautiful children because of IVF. No one on the Republican side that I can name you is in opposition of that."
Hyde-Smith said one of her big concerns is that Duckworth's bill would force religious entities to violate their beliefs and take away the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA).
Tony Perkins, the program host and president of Family Research Council, agreed, adding the measure would legalize things states and conservatives have been fighting for many years.
"And that is cloning," said Perkins. "This would wipe state prohibitions away. It also legalizes gene editing and human animal hybrids – these chimeras. This stuff is unbelievable."
Standing before a nearly empty chamber, Duckworth sought unanimous consent to her bill. Hyde-Smith, who was present, objected to the measure, which means the measure now would have to go through the committee process.
"It was kind of like the Trojan horse," Hyde-Smith shared, referring to the bill. "It was full of things that no one was aware of – and they didn't want you to be aware of it. But we did the right thing by going down and objecting. Thankfully, the process allows for that; that we can stop it in its tracks."
