Recognizing National Infertility Awareness Week

Floor Speech

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Ms. ESCOBAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate National Infertility Awareness Week, founded in 1989, to salute the parents, doctors, researchers, and others for the extraordinary progress over the last four decades to destigmatize infertility and bring awareness to the many barriers people face when trying to start and build their families.

Most Americans are not aware that approximately one in five Americans are impacted by the disease of infertility. The disease affects both men and women of all races, religious backgrounds, and economic statis; it knows no barriers and impacts millions of individuals.

Through the revolutionary contributions of research scientists and considerable medical advancements, fertility treatments have vastly improved since the first successful IVF pregnancy and live birth occurred in 1978. Such advancements include early infertility detection through detailed and data-driven testing, advanced egg-freezing technology, and progressive procedures that allow young cancer patients to preserve their fertility prior to undergoing lifesaving chemotherapy treatments. Organizations like RESOLVE: the National Infertility Association, advocate for millions of individuals and couples in this country who need medical assistance to have a family. Other groups, such as the Military Family Building Coalition (MFBC), have focused on raising awareness for active-duty service members and their spouses facing unique challenges with family building. They are actively working to bring awareness to these unique challenges and advance laws and policies that will help our servicemembers sacrificing for our country achieve their dream of building or expanding their own family. There are also organizations such as the Alliance for Fertility Preservation, who stand up to voice on the importance of affordable fertility preservation options for individuals undergoing cancer treatment. In fact, in the absence of comprehensive and reliable fertility preservation and family building healthcare coverage, the option of having children may not otherwise be available for millions of Americans without the financial assistance of organizations like RESOLVE, AFP, and MFBC, and countless other worthwhile organizations.

Since 1978, and because of extraordinary medical advancements and steadfast advocacy organizations, millions of Americans have been able to receive life affirming treatments that have resulted in the delivery of babies. And while advancements have been a substantial step forward for family building, significant medical, financial, and health equity barriers still exist for others who require medical assistance to combat infertility.

During this National Infertility Awareness Week, I am calling on my colleagues in Congress to do more to remove many of the barriers that currently exist for those experiencing infertility challenges in their pursuit of having a child. The ability to have children and the timing of building a family is a basic human right, and thus we must work together to pass legislation to create a path for these American families. I also applaud my colleagues including Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz, Congresswoman Brownley, Congresswoman DeLauro, Congresswoman Strickland, and Congressman Rick Larsen for introducing legislation devoted to eliminating obstacles to building families. I salute the millions of infertility warriors throughout the country and the world, who advocate on behalf of that most precious of gifts, that of family.

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