In a bid to put pressure on Republican congressional candidates and raise awareness about women's health issues, Democrats in the Senate will be holding a second vote on legislation that would establish a nationwide right to in vitro fertilization (IVF). The vote, scheduled for Tuesday, comes after Republicans previously blocked the bill earlier this year.

The push for the legislation began in response to a ruling by the Alabama Supreme Court, which classified frozen embryos as children under state law. This prompted several clinics in the state to suspend IVF treatments until protective legislation could be enacted. Democrats moved swiftly, recognizing the opportunity to address not only the Alabama ruling but also the potential threat to the procedure following the 2022 overturning of the right to abortion by the US Supreme Court.

The proposed bill not only seeks to safeguard IVF treatments but also aims to increase accessibility and reduce costs associated with the procedure. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer emphasized the significance of the vote, describing it as a "second chance" for Republicans to demonstrate their stance on IVF in front of the American public.

During the initial vote in June, all but two Republicans voted against the legislation, arguing against federal intervention in state affairs and dismissing the bill as insincere. However, Senators Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska broke ranks and voted with the Democrats.

Republicans, aware of the vulnerability on the issue, have scrambled to counter the Democrats' narrative. Former President Donald Trump, who has positioned himself as a "leader on IVF," recently announced plans to require health insurance companies or the federal government to cover fertility treatments. However, details regarding the implementation of this policy remain unclear.

The Republican party, in their summer convention platform, expressed support for IVF but also advocated for granting legal personhood to embryos through the Constitution's 14th amendment. Democrats argue that if Republicans genuinely want to improve access to the procedure, they should vote in favor of their legislation.

Leading the Senate effort on the bill is Senator Tammy Duckworth, a military veteran who has personal experience with IVF and has used the treatment to have her two children. After the first vote was blocked, Duckworth expressed her frustration towards her Republican colleagues, stating, "How dare you."

Republicans have attempted to introduce alternative legislation that discourages explicit bans on IVF treatments but these bills have been rejected by Democrats who deem them insufficient. Senators Katie Britt of Alabama and Ted Cruz of Texas even proposed a bill in June that would threaten to withhold Medicaid funding from states that ban IVF.

As the Senate prepares for its second vote on the IVF legislation, all eyes are on the outcome. While the bill is unlikely to pass, Democrats are eager to use this opportunity to highlight the contrast between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump on women's health issues, especially in light of Trump's self-proclaimed leadership on IVF.

With the stakes high, the ramifications of this vote extend far beyond the Senate floor, resonating with families seeking to become parents and Americans concerned about the future of women's reproductive rights.