Golden State Today

California Attorney General Rob Bonta, alongside a coalition of 21 attorneys general, is calling on Congress to pass the Access to Family Building Act to ensure the right to access assisted reproductive technology (ART) nationwide. In a letter to Congress, AG Bonta emphasized the importance of expanding access to ART services in light of recent restrictive reproductive healthcare decisions.

“Americans should have the right to choose whether, when, and how to start or expand their families, without government interference,” said Attorney General Bonta. He highlighted the need for federal protections, such as the Access to Family Building Act, to safeguard patients' rights in making their own reproductive health care decisions.

The recent Alabama Supreme Court decision, which raised concerns by classifying embryos as "extrauterine children," has put the practice of IVF at risk in Alabama. AG Bonta expressed that this decision not only impacts patients in Alabama but also threatens ART services nationwide and the ability of families to make their own reproductive healthcare choices.

The coalition of attorneys general, including AG Bonta, urged Congress to take proactive measures to protect ART services, emphasizing the role of ART in enabling diverse individuals and couples to build families. The letter called for affordable access to ART services, highlighting the financial barriers that many individuals face in pursuing treatments like IVF.

AG Bonta and his counterparts from various states have come together to advocate for the expansion of access to reproductive healthcare services, emphasizing the importance of ensuring that all families have the opportunity to pursue ART without unreasonable limitations or interference.