Testifies in support of criminal penalties in Born-Alive Infant Protection Act so that babies born alive after abortion will receive humane care.
Calls for support of two measures moving forward in the U.S. House
WASHINGTON, D.C. (09-17-15) — “For too long, Planned Parenthood – the nation’s number one abortionist federation – has operated secretively and with almost no oversight, raking in half-a-billion dollars annually from taxpayers while fighting any attempts to protect babies born alive after abortions in their clinics,” observed Americans United for Life President and CEO Dr. Charmaine Yoest. “But today, in light of the Center for Medical Progress undercover videos, Americans all across the country have been shocked and horrified. Now is the time to hold Planned Parenthood accountable for these atrocities.”
MEDIA ADVISORY: Dr. Yoest will testify before the Subcommittee on Health of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, in a hearing titled, “Protecting Infants: Ending Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Providers Who Violate the Law.” The hearing will take place at 3 p.m. ET in Rayburn 2123.
States have every right to choose where to invest their health care dollars and should not be required to fund Planned Parenthood, she will tell Congress, noting that “states should be permitted to withdraw or deny Medicaid funding to individuals and entities that violate the letter and spirit of these widely supported laws against infanticide.”
Dr. Yoest will also call for criminal penalties to be added to the Born-Alive Infant Protection Act for abortion industry personnel who do not provide life-affirming care to infants born alive after an abortion. “Planned Parenthood has a track record of opposing partial-birth abortion bans as well as protections for infants who are born alive after an abortion,” she noted. To read her entire testimony, click here.
Also Under Consideration in Congress, Defunding Planned Parenthood to Redirect Scarce Taxpayer Resources for Women.
“The U.S. House has an opportunity this week to ensure that funds for women’s health are directed to full service medical facilities, by defunding the nation’s number one abortionist federation, Planned Parenthood and redirecting those funds to Community Health Centers,” Dr. Yoest said.
The “Defund Planned Parenthood Act of 2015,” sponsored by Rep. Diane Black (R-TN) would place an immediate moratorium on all federal funds Planned Parenthood receives for one year while Congress investigates Planned Parenthood for possible violations of law regarding fetal tissue collection for sale or donation.
Regarding possible violations of law, statements made in the Center for Medical Progress videos raise probable cause that Planned Parenthood violated one or all of the following federal laws concerning:
- Receiving valuable consideration for providing fetal tissue
- Altering abortion procedures to obtain fetal tissue
- Obtaining informed consent for fetal tissue donation
- Performing partial-birth abortions
- Killing infants born alive after an attempted induced abortion, infants who are persons entitled to legal protection
Click here to watch the troubling videos and read AUL’s analysis. Click here to read about the legal issues raised by Planned Parenthood’s conduct, as shown in the videos. Click here to learn more about the health risks of abortion for women. And click here to read about AUL’s concerns addressed to the investigating Congressional Committees.
