Friends, let’s talk about this news out of Alabama:

It’s only been about a week since the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos created through IVF are legally considered children (yes, you read that correctly), and already some of the state’s major medical providers have paused their IVF treatments out of fear of risking legal action and prosecution.

This ruling is devastating for any person in Alabama who’s struggling with infertility and wants to have a family.

It also sends an incredibly dangerous message to right-wing politicians, judges, and justices all over the country as our bodies continue to be legislated, controlled, and criminalized.

This cruel decision is just one more way extreme Republicans can attempt to control our reproductive freedoms – and our lives – and I’m fed up.

If you are too, please consider chipping in a few dollars to help me defeat my anti-abortion, MAGA opponent in November. Together, we can take back the House and pass federal legislation that will protect reproductive rights.

I’m a woman of reproductive age, so issues around protecting bodily autonomy and access to reproductive care are deeply personal to me.

That includes the right to build a family if, when, and how I choose to.

I’ve been pretty open about the fact that three years ago, I decided to freeze my eggs. Freezing your eggs is basically the beginning steps of IVF – there are hormone pills, injections, and doctor’s visits for weeks. It’s a physically and emotionally difficult process, and it’s incredibly expensive.

Going through it all, I’m incredibly grateful and lucky that I was able to pay out of pocket for this option, so that if and when I’m ready to start a family, I can pick up where I left off.

Now, for so many people in Alabama hoping to start families, their dreams have been put on hold as clinics stop providing this procedure. And for those patients who are continuing to receive IVF treatment in the state, this ruling puts them at risk of potential legal action if their embryo transplant fails (as they do half the time!).

And of course, losing access to IVF doesn’t just affect straight, cis-gender people. This ruling impacts an entire community of LGBTQ+ people who want to create families of their own, too.

I believe everyone should be able to build their family when and how they want to, and that IVF services should be made more accessible and affordable, not less.

This ruling in Alabama is a setback for reproductive rights. And extremists in the Republican Party have made clear that whether it’s IVF, abortion, or even birth control, they aren’t going to stop pushing their effort to control our bodies.

But they haven’t won yet.

I’ve seen the power of this movement – I know we can defeat Trump, take back the House, and protect reproductive rights in Congress.

I’m going to need your help between now and November – will you chip in whatever amount is meaningful to you to my re-election campaign?

There’s so much at stake in this election and we have a long fight ahead, but I’m so grateful I have you by my side.

-Sara