Letter to the Hon. Paul Ryan, Speaker of the House - Disband Planned Parenthood Select Committee

Letter

Dear Mr. Speaker:

I call on you to immediately disband the new so-called "Select Investigative Panel on Infant Lives," which serves only to continue the witch hunt against Planned Parenthood, its staff and its patients.

After more than five hours of testimony by Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards and investigations by three House committees, there have been absolutely no findings of illegality or wrongdoing by the organization, which provides critical cancer screenings, STD tests and contraceptives to nearly three million women and men every year.

Contraception has been legal for every American since 1972. If the GOP wants to cut off access to the 99 percent of American women who have used birth control, the House already has committees that can have that debate.

Abortion has been legal since Roe v. Wade became law of the land in 1973. If the GOP wants to overturn this landmark decision, the House already has committees that can have that debate.

Scientific fetal tissue research has been legal since 1993, after an independent panel led by an anti-choice judge put forward guidelines during the Reagan Administration to help advance medical breakthroughs like the polio vaccine and treatments for Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. If the GOP wants to get rid of this lifesaving research, the House already has committees that can have that debate.

But we should not and cannot continue this politically-motivated committee targeting Planned Parenthood, which is already costing taxpayers and helping to create a dangerous climate for legal health care in America. Since 1977, there have been 11 murders, 17 attempted murders, 42 bombings and 186 arsons against abortion clinics and providers.

It is time to stop the witch hunt against Planned Parenthood, stop the demonizing rhetoric and disband this committee immediately.

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