Southwest Montana News

Congressman Matt Rosendale of Montana and Congressman Josh Brecheen of Oklahoma have reached out to the leaders of the House and Senate Armed Services committees. They are urging these leaders not to include provisions in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2025 that would expand In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). Their concerns focus on Section 701, which deals with assisted reproductive technology for certain armed forces members and their dependents under Tricare.

The lawmakers expressed their stance through a letter, which was highlighted in an exclusive article by The Hill. In their letter, they stated: “While we have great sympathy for couples who are having difficulty starting a family, IVF is ineffective, leads to the destruction of innocent human life, and does nothing to treat the root cause of a couple’s infertility.” They further emphasized that Congress should protect vulnerable lives and avoid provisions that could increase the national debt.

Earlier this year, in June 2024, Rep. Rosendale proposed amendments to several legislative acts related to defense appropriations and veterans affairs. These amendments aimed at removing funding for IVF treatments but were not adopted. Consequently, Rosendale voted against these pieces of legislation.

Additionally, both representatives had previously contacted the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) seeking information about practices within the IVF industry but have yet to receive a response. Furthermore, Rep. Rosendale had also objected to a decision by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs regarding expanding IVF access to certain veterans.