Defund Planned Parenthood - Aug. 3, 2015

I rise today to speak on an issue that has shaken the moral compass of our society. The phrase, “It's a boy!” is one we often used when celebrating new life. Instead this was spoken by a Planned Parenthood employee, as the body of an unborn baby boy was picked apart and harvested for organs like a liver, kidneys, and heart. We've watched as other Planned Parenthood employees talked about less crunchy techniques to preserve baby organs for buyers, and grumbled about war torn unborn babies before being sold for parts.

Well it would be easier to ignore these videos today we are standing up and shining a light on what is really happening. This is human life and Planned Parenthood the nation's single largest provider of abortion services is harvesting baby body parts. The American people are shocked and horrified by the utter lack of compassion and disregard shown by Planned Parenthood for these women and their babies. This gruesome footage resonates within our collective conscious as it goes against the very principles that we stand for. As a mother and grandmother the gravity of Planned Parenthood's callous and morally reprehensible behavior cannot be ignored. I am committed to defending life because protecting the most vulnerable is an important measure of any society.

I am proud to stand before you today with forty five co-sponsors and offer legislation that will defund Planned Parenthood while safeguarding funding for women's health services. This legislation prohibits federal funding for Planned Parenthood, protects federal funding for women's health services. Like prenatal and postpartum care, cervical and breast cancer screenings, diagnostic laboratory and radiology services and it guarantees there is no reduction in overall federal funding available to support women's health.

This legislation redirects federal funding taking from Planned Parenthood to other eligible entities that provide health services for women, like community health centers and hospitals. There would be absolutely no reduction in overall federal funding available to support women's health. Community health centers provide more comprehensive primary and preventive health care services- except abortion, regardless of a person's ability to pay. Meanwhile Planned Parenthood facilities do not perform in-house mammograms.

The American taxpayers should not be asked to fund an organization like Planned Parenthood that has shown a sheer distain for human dignity, and complete disregard for women and their babies. These videos are hard for anyone to defend and pull back the curtain on Planned Parenthood's careless practice of rummaging for unborn baby organs to be harvested and sold at a price.

I leave you with us and one question. Who do we want to be as a nation? Before us today as an opportunity to vote for legislation that will protect the most vulnerable and women's health.

Thank you Mr. President, I yield the floor.