WASHINGTON, D.C. — After an Alabama Supreme Court ruling put in-vitro fertilization (IVF) in jeopardy, U.S. Rep. Marc Molinaro (R-NY-19) cosponsored the Access to Family Building Act.

It establishes a statutory right to access IVF, thereby overriding any state effort to limit services that millions of Americans rely on to have children. The bill was introduced by U.S. Rep. Susan Wild (D-PA-7). Companion legislation was introduced in the Senate by U.S. Sens. Patty Murray (D-WA) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL).

“I was troubled by and said at the time that I opposed Alabama’s ruling to limit IVF,” said Molinaro. “I’m a parent who has personal experience with IVF and supports all women and families who choose IVF to bring life into this world. Protecting it is just common sense.”

The Alabama Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos used for IVF should be considered children under state law. This decision extends the concept of wrongful death to include embryos, treating them as minors.

Molinaro also says he is opposed to restrictions on birth control and mifepristone, a medication typically used in combination with misoprostol to bring about a medical abortion during pregnancy and manage early miscarriage.