Inhofe Joins 49 Fellow Senators to Raise Concerns with Planned Parenthood Practices
Press Release
U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) joined 49 of his fellow senators today in a letter to Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell following the release of footage by the Center for Medical Progress depicting senior Planned Parenthood Federation of America executives discussing in gruesome detail the organization's role in the harvesting of the organs of unborn babies. In the letter, the senators draw attention to the legal, ethical, and policy issues raised by the footage and call on HHS Secretary Burwell to cooperate with ongoing and future investigations into these questions.
"The footage raises a number of questions about the practices of the organization, including whether they are in compliance with federal laws regulating both the use of fetal tissue and partial-birth abortions," the senators wrote. "In addition to questions about Planned Parenthood's compliance with applicable federal law and medical ethics, we believe the footage prompts important policy questions surrounding the issue of abortions permitted so late in a pregnancy -- sometimes even later than 5 months -- that an unborn baby's organs can be identified and harvested."
The senators also requested that the Secretary confirm the commencement or immediate initiation of "a thorough internal review of the compliance of the Department and Planned Parenthood -- one of the Department's grantees -- with all relevant and applicable federal statutes, regulations, and other requirements."
Inhofe also released the following statement, "I am disgusted that Planned Parenthood chapters are selling fetal body parts for profit. The casual discussion of abortion, dismemberment and sale of babies in these videos is alarming and shows a true lack of moral conviction. Our nation should not be condoning the act of killing our own children or allowing these corrupt organizations to sell body parts for profit. This isn't about being Pro-Life or Pro-Choice anymore, this is about our country's moral conscience, and I will not stand for such horrid actions like this taking place on American soil."
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