Tester Backs Bill to Protect Montanans’ Personal Freedom, Safeguard IVF

Senator co-sponsors the Access to Family Building Act to protect IVF and ensure no Montanan is prevented from trying to start or grow their family

As part of his longstanding efforts to protect Montanans’ freedom and privacy to make their own personal health care decisions, U.S. Senator Jon Tester is backing legislation to safeguard Montana women’s access to in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and other assisted reproductive technology.

The Access to Family Building Act would establish a legal right to access IVF and other assisted reproductive services, overriding any state effort to limit or ban such access and ensuring no Montanan is prevented from trying to start or grow their family.

“Montanans of all stripes don’t want the federal government telling them what to do, and they don’t want politicians or judges stripping away their personal freedoms,” said Tester. “I will always fight to protect Montana women’s freedom to make their own health care decisions, which is why I’m joining legislation to safeguard IVF and ensure no Montanan is prevented from trying to start or grow their family.”

Tester has led the fight to ensure that Montana women have access to safe and effective health care.

Tester is a strong supporter of Women’s Health Protection Act, which would guarantee the right to privacy for women making personal healthcare decisions by codifying Roe v. Wade.

Last year, Tester sent a letter to Walgreens and CVS’ executives pressing the companies to take immediate action to ensure that all women, including those in rural areas like Montana, have access to safe and effective health care. Tester’s letter came in response to Walgreens’ decision limiting the sale of mifepristone and misoprostol, even in states like Montana where the medications are legal. Tester’s pushback was successful – after sending his letter, CVS and Walgreens announced they planned to become certified and offer mifepristone and misoprostol in states where laws would allow pharmacies to dispense it, like Montana. Tester has also signed onto bicameral amicus briefs calling on the Supreme Court to reject a decision that would restrict access to mifepristone.