At a press convention Thursday, pro-life advocates and US representatives got here collectively to urge the Department of Health and Human Services to open an investigation into Planned Parenthood for "enabling child s3x abuse."
A brand new report by the pro-life group Live Action paperwork 10 years of proof that alleges Planned Parenthood knowingly ignores circumstances of s3xual abuse involving minors and performs abortions anyway with out alerting authorities.
"What these abusers do, what s3xual traffickers do to their victims is take them by force to abortion facilities," mentioned Lila Rose, founding father of Live Action, at Thursday's press convention. "And Planned Parenthood, instead of reporting the abuse, does a secret abortion under a 'don't ask, don't tell' policy and sends a vulnerable girl back into the arms of their abuser."
As said by Live Action, $1.5 million per day in taxpayer cash goes straight to Planned Parenthood, which performs roughly 900 abortions each day.
The report factors out that 500 Planned Parenthood clinics throughout the nation obtain funding by way of the Title X Family Planning Program, which is a federal regulation that additionally mandates recipients report circumstances of kid abuse. However, Live Action says clinics aren't doing so.
"Planned Parenthood does not empower women and their children, it empowers their abusers," mentioned Rep. Diane Black (R-TN).
She continued, "In one case a victim admitted that her abuser took her there because they quote, 'don't ask questions.'"
The proposed laws by Live Action would reinforce that mandate to report abuse.
"This report exposes the culture of cover-up within Planned Parenthood," mentioned Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ). "I find their complicity absolutely appauling."
Pro-life lawmakers at the moment are hoping the brand new report won't solely open an investigation however sway a few of their colleagues to defund the group.
"It comes down to votes," mentioned Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-MO). "In the House, we have repeatedly voted to not fund Planned Parenthood, but in the Senate it hasn't moved forward, so I hope this report will help."
On the Senate aspect, some Republicans say the brand new report is trigger for an investigation of Planned Parenthood.
Clinics like Planned Parenthood are required to report suspected s3xual abuse. Their continued failure to guarantee the security of shoppers, particularly minors, is horrific. This failure is why my colleagues & I would like an investigation.https://t.co/bVfoHsSQtT
— Sen. James Lankford (@SenatorLankford) June 7, 2018
"It's all of our voice together that are going to make a difference and we've got to be loud to get the message through," mentioned Rep. Black. "The despicable cycle of these facilities turning a blind eye has got to end."