Legislation to create a national right to in-vitro fertilization (IVF) was blocked by Senate Republicans on Thursday, with only two Republicans voting in favor of the bill.
The bill needed 60 votes in order to move forward, which would mean nine Republicans would have needed to break ranks and vote with Democrats.
Despite presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump's previous statements in support of IVF access, only GOP Senators Susan Collins (Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) voted in favor of the bill, leaving the final vote 48-47.
The vote Thursday is the latest in a series set up by Senate Democratic leadership about codifying reproductive rights.
Republicans blocked a similar bill from Democrats a week earlier that would have guaranteed the right to contraception.
GOP senators also tried to establish their own version of the IVF bill from Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Katie Britt (R-Aka).
Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash) told reporters on Wednesday that their bill "explicitly allows states to enact restrictions and burdensome requirements that would force IVF clinics to close their doors," The Hill quoted.
Furthermore, she states, "That bill is nothing but a PR stunt, providing cover for Republicans to keep somehow pretending they're not going to control women's bodies."
The proposed legislation will bar states from receiving Medicaid funding if they implement a ban on IVF.
On the Senate floor Wednesday, Britt said Democrats were only interested in fearmongering.
"Sadly, they aren't interested in a bill to actually protect IVF access and figuring out how we could get that to become law. That wouldn't advance their true goal, which is about partisan electoral politics," Britt said.
Following the vote, every Senate Republican signed a pledge saying they "strongly support" continued nationwide access.
The vote Thursday comes a day after the Southern Baptist Convention voted against IVF.
