During a speech at the Democratic National Convention, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth from Illinois advocated for protections for in-vitro fertilization (IVF). She warned that the Republican Party, under former President Trump, poses a threat to the rights of Americans seeking to start families.
“Trump’s anti-woman crusade has put other Americans’ right to have their own families at risk,” Duckworth stated, emphasizing that the potential loss of abortion rights could lead to efforts to restrict IVF as well. She called on Trump to “stay out of our doctor’s offices … and out of the Oval Office, too,” prompting cheers from the audience.
Duckworth criticized JD Vance for his remarks about women without children, noting his votes against legislation designed to assist families. Her comments reflect the expanding debate around reproductive rights at the convention, particularly in light of recent legal decisions, such as the Alabama Supreme Court ruling that recognizes embryos as children, which could jeopardize IVF access.
Having utilized IVF to have her two children, Duckworth has proposed federal protections for IVF and related technologies, but these efforts have faced opposition from Senate Republicans. “Every American deserves the right to be called ‘Mommy’ or ‘Daddy’ without being treated like a criminal,” she expressed.
Duckworth, a combat veteran who lost both legs in the Iraq War, made history as the first disabled woman elected to Congress and the first sitting senator to give birth. She began her political career in 2012 by defeating a Republican incumbent and was later elected to the Senate in 2016.
In her critique of Trump, Duckworth labeled him a “five-time draft-dodging coward,” asserting that he is infringing upon individual rights and freedoms. “Let me say to every would-be parent: I see you. I’m with you,” she affirmed.