On Tuesday, March 17, 2026, at 10 a.m., the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Democrats hosted a roundtable discussion titled “Protecting the Freedom to Build a Family: Fertility Care and IVF Access for Veterans.” Although VA has taken some steps to expand access to assisted reproductive technologies, including in vitro fertilization (IVF), in recent years, veterans still report difficulties in meeting eligibility requirements and readily accessing IVF treatments through VA.

This roundtable will focus on: veterans’ current ability to access IVF at VA; whether VA is effectively educating veterans, VA providers, and community providers about eligibility for and processes to access IVF care; relevant IVF policy trends; and current and future legislation to address IVF access for veterans.

WHO:

Ranking Member Representative Mark Takano (CA-39),

Democratic Member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee

Jennifer Ross, Manager,

Federal Policy, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America

Rita Graham,

Director of Government Relations, Service Women’s Action Network

Sharon Arana,

Policy Team Member, Minority Veterans of America

Maureen Elias,

Deputy Director, Government Affairs, Wounded Warrior Project

Julie Howell,

Associate Legislative Director, Paralyzed Veterans of America

Naomi Mathis,

Deputy National Legislative Director, Disabled American Veterans

Kayla Williams,

Senior Advisor, Vet Voice Foundation

Alex Dobhailen,

Veteran Advocate

Dr. Ginny Ryan,

Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Division Chief, University of Washington School of Medicine

Dr. Alicia Christy,

Former Deputy Director of Reproductive Health, Veterans Health Administration

Georgette Kerr,

Federal Government Affairs Consultant, American Society for Reproductive Medicine

Karla Torres,

Senior Human Rights Counsel, Center for Reproductive Rights

Alyssa Hundrup,

Director, Health Care Team, U.S. Government Accountability Office