Three Republican congressmen are calling on the Centers for Disease Control to address concerns about the practices in the assisted reproductive technology industry. Reps. Josh Brecheen, Andrew Clyde, and Matt Rosendale have sent a letter to CDC Director Mandy Cohen demanding answers about the destruction of embryos in the in vitro fertilization (IVF) industry.
The letter referenced the government’s role in securing the natural right to life and expressed worries about the lack of transparency in the IVF industry in the United States. The congressmen highlighted the fact that the U.S. does not have regulations prohibiting clinics from practices like eugenics or careless destruction of human life, unlike other Western countries.
The CDC’s latest data on IVF cycles in the U.S. indicates that hundreds of thousands of cycles are performed each year, resulting in the creation and potential destruction of millions of embryos. Fertility facilities are not required to disclose the number of embryos manufactured, frozen, or discarded each year, raising concerns about genetic screening and potential eugenics practices.
The congressmen requested specific information from the CDC regarding the number of embryos created and discarded, the length of time embryos are frozen, and the use of genetic screening in decision-making. They also inquired about the CDC’s recommendations on IVF practices and raised moral and ethical concerns about the industry.
This is not the first time members of Congress have raised objections to the fertility industry’s practices. The congressmen previously opposed the Department of Veterans Affairs’ plan to fund IVF for single and same-sex veterans. There is growing scrutiny on the industry’s practices, including calls for more oversight and regulation.
Overall, the congressmen emphasized the need for transparency and accountability in the IVF industry to address ethical concerns and protect the natural right to life.
