Merced Times

Congressman John Duarte (CA-13) has endorsed a new law aimed at providing financial relief to families pursuing in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments. The proposal, H.R. 9479, seeks to establish a refundable tax credit of up to $30,000 to cover IVF-related expenses, thereby helping families achieve their dreams of having children without being burdened by the high cost of fertility treatments.

“As a strong supporter of women’s rights, I firmly believe that women should have access to IVF treatments, regardless of the obstacles they face,” said Rep. Duarte. “Families in our Valley deserve the best support, and this tax credit will ease the financial burden for those pursuing IVF. Helping families grow is a priority for me as a father, a husband, and your Congressman, and I’m proud to support this common-sense solution.”

The proposal aims to create a fully refundable tax credit for IVF-related medical expenses with a lifetime benefit of up to $30,000. It also allows taxpayers to deduct IVF-related expenses beyond the $30,000 limit and covers various IVF-related costs including transportation, egg retrievals and transfers, counseling, lab fees, medications, ultrasounds among others.

In 2021 alone, more than 11,000 babies were born in California using IVF methods—representing 2.7% of all births statewide. While 28% of large companies provide IVF benefits to their employees, many small businesses do not offer such benefits leaving families responsible for covering these costs themselves.

The United States is currently experiencing a declining birthrate; expanding access to affordable IVF could potentially help reverse this trend by making it easier for families to afford fertility treatments.