Legislators
around the world are beginning to learn of the undercover videos
exposing the illegal sale of aborted baby body parts by Planned
Parenthood and are calling for investigations into local and national
Planned Parenthood affiliates.
National
and state legislators in the United States were the first to react to
the shocking videos, which are a part of a series entitled "Human
Capital" by The Center for Medical Progress.
The videos reveal Planned Parenthood abortionists negotiating the sale
of fetal organs and tissue, even discussing how they use partial-birth
abortion methods to keep the organs intact to actors posing as buyers
for a human biologics company interested in purchasing baby body parts.
In
the first video, Dr. Deborah Nucatola, a senior director of medical
services for Planned Parenthood, explained the practice- which is
prohibited by federal law- and calmly described which body parts are in
"highest demand" while sharing a meal with two individuals she believed
were prospective buyers. She cavalierly related the process whereby she
chooses which section of the unborn baby's body to "crush" during the
abortion procedure depending on which body part she wants to harvest
intact.
Another
video exposes Planned Parenthood medical director Mary Gatter
explaining how they bypass the laws on tissue collection to keep the
baby intact. "I wouldn't object to asking Ian, who's our surgeon who
does the cases, to use an IPAS [manual vacuum aspirator] at that
gestational age in order to increase the odds that he's going to get an
intact specimen," said Gatter, aware that federal law stipulates
there can be no adjustment to the timing or method of abortion done for
the purpose of fetal tissue collection. She also expressed the desire
for a "less crunchy" abortion method.
The US House of Representatives moved quickly following the public uproar over the videos with Speak John Boehner calling for hearings on the grisly abortion practices stating:
"Nothing
is more precious than life, especially an unborn child. When anyone
diminishes an unborn child, we are all hurt, irreversibly so. When an
organization monetizes an unborn child - and with the cavalier attitude
portrayed in this horrific video - we must all act. As a start, I have
asked our relevant committees to look into this matter. I am also
calling on President Obama and Health and Human Services Secretary
Sylvia Burwell to denounce, and stop, these gruesome practices."
The House Judiciary and Energy and Commerce Committees each launched investigations into Planned Parenthood and its actions. 135 Members of Congress signed a letter
to US Attorney General Loretta Lynch demanding the Department of
Justice (DOJ) investigate Planned Parenthood in the sale of baby body
parts. "The harvesting of human fetal body parts for sale is an
activity, which shocks the conscience. Moreover, the tragic ethical
considerations, potential for criminal violations, and involvement of
taxpayer subsidies raise issues of great public importance," the letter stated. It also cites the law the abhorrent practice violates, 42 U.S.C §289g-2, which states, "it
shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly acquire, receive, or
otherwise transfer any human fetal tissue for valuable consideration if
the transfer affects interstate commerce", violators of which can be "imprisoned for not more than 10 years."
Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) and Constitution Subcommittee Chairman Trent Franks (R-AZ) sent a letter
to Attorney General Loretta Lynch calling for the Justice Department to
investigate non-compliance by Planned Parenthood with the Partial Birth
Abortion Ban based on comments made by Planned Parenthood's Dr. Nucatola
who in the video explained how she changes the position of the baby to
ensure that the head presents last, as in partial birth abortion.
Dr. Nucatola explained how she and other abortionists define the Partial Birth Abortion Ban: "...the
federal abortion ban is a law and laws are up to interpretation. So
there are some people who interpret it as intent. So if I say on Day
One, I do not intend to do this, what ultimately happens doesn't matter.
Because I didn't intend to do this on Day One so I'm complying with the
law."
Questions on the selling of aborted baby body parts have extended to the European Parliament
where concerns are growing about the role of the larger International
Planned Parenthood Federation's European Network. MEP Miroslav Mikolásik
filed an inquiry
asking if the European Commission is aware of the investigations being
conducted in the U.S. regarding the involvement of Planned Parenthood
abortion clinics in the illegal trafficking of aborted baby parts and
whether or not the Commission will suspend funding to the Planned
Parenthood network until U.S authorities have completed their
investigations.
In the Republic of Ireland,
Independent TD Mattie McGrath called on the Irish Family Planning
Association (IFPA) to distance itself from its affiliation with
International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) after the videos
revealed the broad illegal practice of the sale of the organs of
aborted children for profit in the U.S.
TD McGrath stated,
"The
video that has emerged in recent day's highlights some of the more
grotesque ethical and legal nightmares associated with the abortion
industry. Here we have the Senior Medical Director of the
largest abortion provider in the world casually trading in human body
parts with no sense of the horrific nature of her comments.
The
IFPA which is a member of Planned Parenthood International must
immediately condemn these actions and make it explicitly clear that it
does not support the manipulation of abortion procedures for the
purposes of maximising monetary profit by trading in human body parts. I
am also calling on the Minister for Health to immediately clarify the
exact position of the IFPA on this issue since it has been on the
receiving end of millions in State funding over the last number of
years."
Senator Rand Paul has introduced a bill to defund Planned Parenthood, S.1861,
which has been fast tracked in Senate by a procedural move called "Rule
14", which will allow the bill to bypass the Committee process and go
straight to a full vote on the Senate floor. The Defund Planned Parenthood Act of 2015, was
introduced in the House of Representatives by Rep Diane Black to defund
Planned Parenthood for one year while it is investigated.
Additionally, nine states have now begun investigations into Planned
Parenthood, including Arizona, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana,
Massachusetts, Missouri, Ohio, and Texas.
Outrage in the U.S. is not limited to the Republican Party.
U.S. Democratic Senator Tim Kaine was asked about the videos and noted
that multiple investigations were already underway because of the video
stating, "You have my commitment that it will be gotten to the bottom
of. I know that there's a lot of organization. The House has started an
investigation of it. I don't know if the Senate has, but the Senate
might. And I also understand that there's investigations at state levels
about this. So there are multiple efforts already underway to dig into
it."
The
videos are the product of a 3-year investigative study of Planned
Parenthood. David Daleiden of the Center for Medical Progress said they
plan to release more videos over the next couple months, totaling about
twelve, revealing more shocking footage of Planned Parenthood's illegal
activities. "Planned Parenthood's criminal conspiracy to make money
off of aborted baby parts reaches to the very highest levels of their
organization. Elected officials must listen to the public outcry for
Planned Parenthood to be held accountable to the law and for our tax
dollars to stop underwriting this barbaric abortion business," declared Daleiden.
Response by Members of the U.S. Congress has been fast and furious. The following is a partial list:
Press conference hosted by Members can be viewed here.
July 15 Members press conference on call for investigation can be viewed here video
Speaker Boehner (R-OH) press statement and remarks to the press
Leader McCarthy (R-CA) press statement
Whip Scalise (R-LA) press statement
Cathy McMorris Rodgers Facebook post
Chairman Goodlatte Announces House Judiciary Committee Investigation into Horrific Abortion Practices
Energy and Commerce Committee Launches Investigation Following "Abhorrent" Planned Parenthood Video
Rep. Mike Bishop (R-MI) press statement
Rep. Diane Black (R-TN) press statement
Rep. Chris Collins (R-NY) press statement
Rep. Sean Duffy (R-WI) press conference clip
Rep. John Fleming (R-LA) press statement
Rep. Bill Flores (R-TX) press statement
Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE) press statement
Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC) speech
Rep. Trent Franks (R-AZ) press statement
Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-MO) press statement
Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA) tweet and press statement
Rep. Mia Love (R-UT) speech
Rep. Luke Messer (R-IN) press statement
Rep. Tim Murphy (R-PA) press release and press conference clip
Rep. Pitts (R-PA) press release
Rep. Martha Roby (R-AL) speech and press conference clip
Rep. Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) press statement
Rep. Keith Rothfus (R-PA) press statement
Rep. John Shimkus (R-IL) Facebook post
Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) speech and press conference clip
Rep. Ann Wagner (R-MO) press statement and press conference clip
Rep. Jacki Walorski (R-IN) press statement
Rep. Kevin Yoder (R-KS) tweet
Senator Lankford (R-OK) speech
Congressmen Sean Duffy and Trent Franks hosted two separate special orders on the House floor.
Member videos:
Rep. Sean Duffy (R-WI), opening and closing
Rep. Rick Allen (R-GA)
Rep. Brian Babin (R-TX)
Rep. Diane Black (R-TN)
Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN)
Rep. Renee Ellmers (R-NC)
Rep. Blake Farenthold (R-TX)
Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE)
Rep. Trent Franks (R-AZ) and closing statement
Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC)
Rep. Bob Gibbs (R-OH)
Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-MO)
Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA)
Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-TX)
Rep. Jody Hice (R-GA)
Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-MI)
Rep. Bill Johnson (R-OH)
Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-CA)
Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-CO)
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA)
Rep. Kristi Noem (R-SD)
Rep. Martha Roby (R-AL)
Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ)
Rep. Ann Wagner (R-MO)
Rep. Mark Walker (R-NC)
Rep. Tim Walberg (R-MI)
Rep. Randy Weber (R-TX)