A new, special congressional House committee will have “the resources and the subpoena power” to achieve a straightforward goal: “to get to the bottom” of the horrific Planned Parenthood scandal. The Planned Parenthood debacle has grown increasingly disturbing since mid-July, when the Center for Medical Progress released their first undercover video. The CMP investigation has toppled Planned Parenthood’s public image with hard evidence of felonious behavior and a callous and barbaric attitude towards human Life. We have learned that Planned Parenthood knows about and condones the sale of aborted babies to the highest bidder – and that the law is no deterrent to Planned Parenthood officials concerned only with the bottom line.
To date, three congressional committees (in addition to many state-level investigations) have commenced unique investigations into the horrific revelations by CMP. But progress of these committees has been modest. Therefore, on Friday, outgoing Speaker of the House John Boehner appointed a Republican lineup to the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Select Investigative Panel and equipped the chairwoman, Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), with subpoena power.
Other appointees include Rep. Joe Pitts (R-PA); Rep. Diane Black (R-TN); Rep. Larry Bucshon (R-IN); Rep. Sean Duffy (R-WI); Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD); Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-MO); and Rep. Mia Love (R-UT). Some of these congressmen and women have overlapped on other committees, demonstrating a vested interest in holding Planned Parenthood accountable for their atrocious behavior and expanding legal protections for the preborn victims of abortion.
In an official statement from his office, Speaker Boehner explained the rationale behind the new committee:
Recent videos exposing the abortion-for-baby parts business have shocked the nation, and demanded action. At my request, three House committees have been investigating the abortion business, but we still don’t have the full truth. Chairman Blackburn and our members will have the resources and the subpoena power to get to the bottom of these horrific practices, and build on our work to protect the sanctity of all human life.
Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the Susan B. Anthony List, believes the committee was thoughtfully appointed by Boehner. Dannenfelser told the Catholic News Agency: “This select panel is an encouraging restart to an investigative process that is long overdue. We are encouraged to see such passionate and articulate pro-life women and men – including doctors and a nurse – lead the charge to expose the abortion industry’s exploitative practices.”
House Republicans have cemented their commitment to defunding Planned Parenthood, challenging Planned Parenthood officials and supporters with an onslaught of hard-hitting questions about the group’s internal operations and use of federal taxpayer funding. The House also approved a resolution– H.R. 3762, which cannot be filibustered by the Senate—on Friday to halt Planned Parenthood funding for a year while the investigations are underway.
House Minority Leader and radical anti-Life activist, Nancy Pelosi, will appoint five Democrats to the Select Investigative Panel.