The case for defunding Planned Parenthood “has never been stronger,” Rep. Diane Black (R-TN) argues.
Earlier in the day the Center for Medical Progress released a second video showing the President of Planned Parenthood Federation of America’s Medical Director’s Council, Mary Gatter, negotiating the price of body tissue with an undercover actor posing as a “buyer.”
“Once again we are at a loss for words by the brazen manner in which Planned Parenthood employees casually discuss the harvesting of aborted babies’ tissue and organs. These videos give us a window into the soul of the big abortion industry and expose their past statements as flat-out lies,” Black said.
The new video follows another video released by the Center for Medical Progress attempting to expose the abortion group’s practices.
“After the first horrific undercover video clearly showing a Planned Parenthood employee discussing the sale of aborted babies’ body parts, the organization assured us that ‘there is no financial benefit for tissue donation’ and that the process is carried out under ‘the highest ethical and legal standards.’ Now we know that statement was false. There is nothing ‘ethical’ about the conversation seen here,” Black noted.
The pro-life lawmaker added that she plans to introduce legislation to halt all federal funding for Planned Parenthood for a year to allow Congress to investigate.
“If Planned Parenthood was simply seeking reimbursement costs for tissue ‘donations’ then why would its employees haggle over prices? Planned Parenthood’s web of deceit is quickly unraveling and the case for defunding this heartless organization has never been stronger. That is why, in addition to continuing to urge passage of the Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act, I also intend to introduce legislation later today placing an immediate moratorium on all Planned Parenthood funding for one year while Congress conducts a thorough investigation.”
Following the release of the first video House Speaker John Boehner called for investigations and hearings into the matter.
“When an organization monetizes an unborn child – and with the cavalier attitude portrayed in this horrific video – we must all act,” Boehner said last week. “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.”