Senate Democrats sought to advance the Right to IVF Act, spearheaded by Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., in a move that they argued drew a contrast between the Republicans who voted against it and their party's presidential nominee Donald Trump, who has pledged his administration would require the government or insurance companies to pay for IVF.

The closely divided U.S. Senate gridlocked Tuesday over the best way to provide nationwide protections for in vitro fertilization, despite lawmakers from both political parties maintaining they want to do so.

The Senate will vote for the second time this year on legislation that would establish a nationwide right to in vitro fertilization — Democrats’ latest election-year attempt to force Republicans into a defensive stance on women’s health issues.