John:

Last week, the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos produced for in vitro fertilization (IVF) — a process used for decades to help people start or grow their families — are children.

The process of IVF usually involves creating multiple embryos to increase the chances of a viable pregnancy, with additional embryos either frozen and available for future use, or discarded if they are not viable.

Without IVF, my husband and I wouldn't have our two beautiful daughters. That is something we cherish deeply, and are so incredibly grateful for — and I know millions of families across the country wouldn’t have been able to start their own families without it either.

But under the Alabama Supreme Court's new ruling — to use my case as an example: when we had five fertilized eggs and three were considered non-viable, discarding them could potentially be considered manslaughter or even murder.

Essentially, Republicans have put the rights of fertilized eggs over the rights of women.

We are already seeing the effects of this in Alabama, with fertility clinics across the state almost immediately halting treatments last week out of fear of criminal prosecution.

The fact is that what is happening right now — not just in Alabama with this ruling on IVF, but in states across the country — is only possible because Donald Trump's Supreme Court justices overturned Roe v. Wade in June 2022. All over the nation, MAGA Republicans are inserting themselves into the most personal decisions that a family can make, and they are putting reproductive care at risk for millions of people.

If Trump and his extremist Republican Party win again in November, there is no doubt that they will keep up their relentless campaignto impose their radical, anti-choice agenda at the federal level, potentially even implementing an outright nationwide ban on abortion.

We cannot allow that to happen. That is why I'm asking you today:

Will you add your name to my petition in support of in vitro fertilization and reproductive freedom for all? It's so important that we all make our voices heard on this critical issue.

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The bottom line is that women and their doctors should decide what healthcare decisions are best for themselves and their families — not Republican politicians.

Now as much as ever, we must work to elect more pro-choice Democrats at every level of government and guarantee reproductive freedom nationwide. Thank you for being a part of this important effort.

All my best,

Tammy Duckworth

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