Poliquin Demands Planned Parenthood Be Held Accountable

WASHINGTON – Yesterday, Maine’s Second District Congressman, Bruce Poliquin, sent a letter to Department of Health and Human Services Secretary, Sylvia Burwell, demanding a report on how federal tax dollars are distributed to Planned Parenthood and to know what management safeguards are in place to ensure that no federal funding is used for illegal operations. 

In his letter, Congressman Poliquin wrote, "I am extremely concerned about the serious allegations that Planned Parenthood Federation of America is altering abortion procedures, including performing partial birth abortions, in order to harvest and sell body parts for profit. If proven true, these horrific acts violate federal law and must be stopped. 

"As such, in the strongest and most direct language possible, as a Member of Congress and parent, I request the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services provide my Office with a report detailing how federal tax dollars are distributed to Planned Parenthood Federation of America, and what management safeguards are in place to ensure their lawful and proper use."

The following is the full text of the letter:

August 5, 2015

The Honorable Sylvia Matthews Burwell
Office of the Secretary
United States Department of Health and Human Services
200 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20201

Dear Secretary Burwell:

I am extremely concerned about the serious allegations that Planned Parenthood Federation of America is altering abortion procedures, including performing partial birth abortions, in order to harvest and sell body parts for profit. If proven true, these horrific acts violate federal law and must be stopped. Beyond the clear intent, spirit and content of the law, the unthinkable act of merchandising body parts from almost fully developed babies neither reflects my values as a parent, nor those of most Maine 2nd District families, who I represent, let alone millions of other compassionate Americans.

Our Constitution gives the U.S. House of Representatives the authority to appropriate federal funds to all federal government departments and agencies, including the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) which you head. Under HHS’ purview, $528 million was distributed to Planned Parenthood during 2014. As such, American taxpayers have a vested interest in how Planned Parenthood operates.

I realize that the organization provides important health care services to women in Maine and across the country, including cervical and breast cancer screenings, laboratory and radiology services, prenatal and postpartum care, immunization, and sexually transmitted disease testing. I also understand that Planned Parenthood performs more than 30% of all abortions in the United States - 327,000 last year, or nearly 900 every day. It is illegal for Planned Parenthood to perform elective partial birth abortions, alter abortion procedures to harvest organs, or use federal tax dollars to pay for any elective abortion procedure.

We should always extend compassion and care to every woman who faces an unwanted pregnancy. We should offer her help and empathy, never condemnation.  We should also extend this same compassion and care to unborn children.

Research confirms that unborn babies feel pain at 20 weeks of pregnancy, halfway through full-term development. At 19 weeks, an unborn child can be startled by loud noises outside the womb. It is unimaginable that Planned Parenthood's medical professionals have discussed, on camera, inhumanely crushing babies' heads to start the dismemberment process to preserve organs for harvest and sale. This is immoral; this is cruel; this is wrong; this is illegal. When asked about the legality of altering abortion procedures to harvest organs, a senior Planned Parenthood official stated on camera that “the federal partial birth abortion ban is a law and laws are up to interpretation.”  Whether one is pro-life or pro-choice, we are a society that relies on the rule of law. It is imperative that our laws are followed, not discarded.

The continued public release of chilling videos where Planned Parenthood officials cheerfully boast about their seemingly illegal activities raises a number of common sense questions.

Has Planned Parenthood performed elective partial birth abortions? Has it harvested body parts from any abortion and sold them for profit? Has the organization altered its abortion procedures in order to harvest organs? Has Planned Parenthood used taxpayer dollars to pay for elective abortions?

When hard-earned taxpayer dollars are used to help fund any organization, a bond of trust is expected among our taxpayers, the receiving entity, and our government. In this case, your Department is responsible for ensuring that trust is not broken, the law is not breached, and sensible human care is extended to almost fully-developed babies. Given the evidence thus far, I question whether that has happened.

As such, in the strongest and most direct language possible, as a Member of Congress and parent, I request the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services provide my Office with a report detailing how federal tax dollars are distributed to Planned Parenthood Federation of America, and what management safeguards are in place to ensure their lawful and proper use.

My 650,000 constituents from Maine's 2nd District deserve to hear from you promptly. I will personally call you on Monday, August 10 if your Office hasn't responded to this request by then.