The Family Act

Floor Speech

Mrs. GILLIBRAND. Mr. President, building a family is an exciting milestone in the lives of millions of American families. Unfortunately, the road towards conceiving a child is often difficult and painful for the nearly 7 million Americans diagnosed with the disease of infertility.

Earlier this month, men and women across the country shared their stories during National Infertility Awareness Week. This movement, organized by RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association, brings attention to the disease of infertility and encourages the public to take charge of their reproductive health. Let me take this opportunity to commend RESOLVE for its work providing community and giving voice to women and men experiencing infertility.

Over the last few decades, significant medical advancements, such as in vitro fertilization, have provided a solution for some would be parents. However, the high cost to undergo infertility care often poses an additional barrier for couples to overcome. It costs more than $12,000 for a couple to undergo one cycle of infertility treatment and insurance coverage is often dismal. For some patients, multiple cycles are required to achieve a successful pregnancy outcome. Federal Government insurance plans do not specifically cover infertility treatments and only 15 States offer any level of coverage.

I have introduced a bill that would alleviate some of the costs associated with infertility care. The Family Act (S. 881) creates a Federal tax credit for individuals who are diagnosed with infertility by a licensed physician. A tax credit will help make this vital patient care more accessible and affordable to those who lack insurance coverage for these services.

I hope you will join me by becoming a cosponsor of The Family Act. This is a necessary step towards ensuring that all of our citizens have the ability to raise a family, without compromising their financial future.

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