At Hearing, Senator Murray Calls Out Republicans for Blocking IVF Coverage for Servicemembers, Applauds Consideration of Two Commonsense Veterans Bills to Help Constituents in[...]

Senator Murray: "Not only has the President not done a thing to lower the cost of IVF, he stood by as Speaker Johnson cut a very straightforward provision to make IVF more affordable for servicemembers as part of this year's NDAA."

Senator Murray's Purple Heart Veterans Education Act and Molly R. Loomis Research for Descendants of Toxic Exposed Veterans Act among legislation considered at today's hearing

***WATCH: Senator Murray's exchange at the hearing***

Washington, D.C. - Today, at a Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs hearing on pending legislation, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), a former chair and senior member of the committee, spoke about how two of her bills on the hearing agenda would close critical gaps in current law to better serve veterans and their families. She also pressed witnesses on President Trump and Republicans' deliberate efforts to deny servicemembers and veterans access to in vitro fertilization (IVF), after House Speaker Mike Johnson worked behind the scenes to strip a provision, based on Senator Murray's legislation, that would ensure health care coverage for fertility services, including IVF, for all active-duty servicemembers.

[IVF FOR SERVICEMEMBERS]

In opening comments, Senator Murray said:

"President Trump came into office saying that he would make IVF free.

"Instead, not only has the President not done a thing to lower the cost of IVF, he stood by now as Speaker Johnson cut a very straightforward provision to make IVF more affordable for servicemembers as part of this year's NDAA.

"And on that note, I am really disappointed to see that my Veteran Families Health Services Act was left off of the agenda today. That bill would give more servicemembers and veterans the opportunity to grow their families-including through IVF-by expanding the fertility services that are covered under VA and DOD health care.

"It just seems like Republicans and this administration really talk a big game about IVF. But when it comes to actual policy, it's pretty clear who is in the driver's seat: anti-abortion extremists like Speaker Johnson.

"So I just want to make it clear, I think it's pretty outrageous that Republicans won't lift a finger to help our servicemembers-or anyone for that matter-access IVF. And I think it is really important everyone here understands that."

Senator Murray continued by asking Dr. Thomas O'Toole, Acting Assistant Under Secretary for Health for Clinical Services at the Veterans Health Administration, about the higher rates of infertility servicemembers face, in large part because of their time serving our country in uniform: "Dr. O'Toole, are you aware that servicemembers face a higher rate of infertility compared to the rest of the population?"

"I'm not directly familiar with it, ma'am, but I take your word on it," answered Dr. O'Toole.

"Well it is true, and our servicemembers, as we all know, lay their life on the line for our country. And I really believe-and I think many people do-that the least we can do is help them start their families when they come home. So again, I'm registering my deep disappointment and hope that that can change," said Senator Murray.

[PURPLE HEART EDUCATION BENEFITS]

Senator Murray continued by discussing her bipartisan Purple Heart Veterans Education Act, one of the bills under consideration at the hearing today. Murray's legislation would close a gap in current law that has denied Purple Heart recipients who received their award after they were discharged the ability to transfer their GI bill benefits to their dependents. Murray first introduced the legislation last Congress after a constituent and Purple Heart veteran from Washington state reached out to share how he had been unable to transfer his GI benefits to his daughter when she going to college.

"As the daughter of a Purple Heart veteran, I know how much they sacrifice for our country. I take seriously our responsibility to be there for them when they need it the most," Senator Murray said. "Unfortunately, right now, not all Purple Heart veterans are treated equally when it comes to their benefits. For example, post-9/11 veterans can transfer their GI benefits to their descendants while they're still in service. However, one of my constituents reached out to tell me about problem he was facing: because he received his Purple Heart after his service and was unable to transfer his GI bill benefits to his daughter when she was looking to go to college. So the bill that I'm offering, which I'm glad to see on the agenda today, would fix that loophole."

"Ms. Devlin, you mentioned you wanted to see some changes, but let me just ask you: are you supportive of this legislation?" Senator Murray asked Margarita Devlin, Principal Deputy Undersecretary for Benefits at VA.

"We do support the intent of this, and it's really technical amendments to ensure Department of War is involved in the process, as… they're responsible for the process of transferring eligibility," Ms. Devlin replied.

"Well I'm happy to talk with you about what your recommendations are, but I think this is a really important piece of legislation; I hope we can move on it," Senator Murray said.

[RESEARCH FOR DESCENDANTS OF TOXIC-EXPOSED VETERANS]

Murray continued by asking Ms. Devlin about her Molly R. Loomis Research for Descendants of Toxic Exposed Veterans Act-also under consideration at today's hearing. This legislation, led by Senator Murray and Veterans' Committee Chair Blumenthal (D-CT), would commission first-of-its-kind, landmark research on birth defects among descendants of toxic-exposed veterans. While there has been some research on the link between birth defects and generational exposure to toxins and chemicals, there has yet to be comprehensive, government-led studies into the effects of toxic exposure on descendants of toxic-exposed veterans.

"This is a bill that's really near and dear to me," Senator Murray said. "Molly is a Washington state resident. She was born with spina bifida, it's believed to be caused by her father's exposure to Agent Orange when he served in Vietnam. And despite research showing descendants of toxic-exposed veterans experience lifelong medical issues, there has yet to be a comprehensive government-led study of this issue. So my bill simply takes a very critical step forward by requiring research on health conditions that are prevalent in the descendants of veterans who were exposed to toxic substances during their service."

"Ms. Devlin, talk a little bit first about how this research would prepare VA to help future generations of veterans who have been affected by toxic exposure?" asked Senator Murray.

"There has been no significant association that we've seen through the National Academy of Science research to indicate… that are generational impacts based on toxic exposures, but we do have the infrastructure in place. And in fact, with the PACT Act, we have the infrastructure in place to determine which research objectives to take on with the working groups that exist already.

"It's my understanding that there is research showing that descendants of toxic-exposed veterans do experience lifelong medical issues. I think it is really important for us to look at this to make sure they are getting the support they need," Senator Murray replied.

As the daughter of a disabled World War II veteran, Senator Murray knows firsthand the sacrifice that military service demands. She has been fighting for over a decade to expand access to IVF care and other fertility services for veterans and servicemembers, and to protect servicemembers' and veterans' access to the reproductive care they deserve. She has introduced multiple pieces of legislation to address the challenges veterans face when starting a family after their service, and in 2012, Senator Murray secured Senate passage of a provision to end the ban on IVF services at VA. Recently, Senator Murray has helped lead the charge in the Senate to protect IVF from Republican attacks for the millions of Americans-including servicemembers and veterans-who rely on it to grow their families. Last Congress, Murray introduced the Right to IVF Actin the Senate-which would establish a nationwide right to IVF and other assisted reproductive technology (ART) and lower the costs of IVF treatment for middle-class families, and includes the Veteran Families Health Services Act. Despite many Republicans publicly claiming to support IVF, nearly every Senate Republican voted against the Right to IVF Act on two separate occasions last year. Overall, Republicans blocked legislation that would protect IVF nationwide three separate times in 2024.

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