On June 17, 2021, Hadassah members across the country joined RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association and the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) as a community partner for Advocacy Day.
In total, over 550 people from all 50 states virtually descended upon Capitol Hill for meetings with legislators and staff to advocate for pro-family building initiatives.
One of the key issues discussed was the bipartisan infertility resolution H.Res. 338, spearheaded by Hadassah and co-sponsored by Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) and Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL). The resolution focuses on raising awareness about how widespread a problem infertility is, highlighting key facts and emphasizing the diversity of populations it affects.
Advocates who were not able to attend meetings were able to participate by sending letters to their members of Congress. Join Hadassah in urging your Representatives to cosponsor H.Res. 338, which affirms congressional commitments to address infertility – including its causes, diagnoses, treatment, and costs.
Infertility affects 1 in 8 couples and Hadassah’s meetings with legislators and their staffers informed them of our commitment to this important issue – including impact in the Jewish community. At Hadassah, our fight to raise awareness in Washington and expand access to treatment is a part of our reConceiving infertility initiative. For too long, infertility and the struggles toward parenthood have been topics of hushed conversations and quiet suffering. As an organization committed to action and the Power of Women Who Do, Hadassah has decided enough is enough.
We created the reConceiving Infertility initiative to raise awareness, confront taboos, drive policy change and empower patients to advocate for their health while expanding the definition of family –whatever that may mean. Introducing H.Res 338 is one step towards creating the change that those experiencing infertility desperately need.
With the support of thousands of members across the country, Hadassah is able to put the Power of Women Who Do into action. In line with what Hadassah National President Rhoda Smolow often says, it was with passion that our members participated in meetings with their legislators, and we take pride that our purpose of advocating for infertility policy can make a difference in so many lives now and in the future.