Contact: Jeff Sagnip, 202-225-3765; chrissmith.house.gov 

WASHINGTON, July 15, 2015 /Christian Newswire/ -- U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), co-chair of the Bipartisan Congressional Pro-Life Caucus, made the following comments today at a Capitol Hill press conference on recently released video of a Planned Parenthood official discussing baby body parts as commodities to be sold:

"Fifteen years ago, I authored the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000—the landmark law that combats the exploitation of human beings, mostly women and children—a cruelty that reduces victims to commodities for sale.

"Yesterday we learned of another cruel manifestation of human trafficking.

"Yesterday we learned that Planned Parenthood is trafficking in baby body parts and intact organs like livers and hearts charging up to $100 or more per body part.

"Not only has Planned Parenthood killed over 7 million innocent babies in their chain of abortion clinics but now undercover video by the Center for Medical Progress—part of a three year investigative journalism study—shows high ranking Planned Parenthood officials explaining how they sell and profit from the sale of the organs of their victims.

"In one clip, Dr. Deborah Nucatola, Senior Director of Planned Parenthood Federation of America's Medical Services—and an abortionist herself—explains 'we've been very good at getting heart, lung, liver, because we know that, so I'm not gonna crush that part, I'm gonna basically crush below, I'm gonna crush above, and I'm gonna see if I can get it all intact.'

"Dr. Nucatola says on camera, 'I'd say a lot of people want liver.  And for that reason, most providers will do this case under ultrasound guidance, so they'll know where they're putting their forceps.'

"In other words, crush the baby to death but do it in a way that preserves certain organs and body parts for sale.

"Dr. Nucatola even suggests on tape creating a 'menu.'

"Current law that proscribes altering abortion procedures in order to procure baby organs and body parts as well as the law that says it is 'unlawful for any person to knowingly acquire, receive or otherwise transfer any human fetal tissue for valuable consideration' need to be enforced and if need be, strengthened.  The ban on partial-birth abortion and the Born Alive Infant Protection Act may have relevance here. As does the House-passed Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act.

"Congress must—and will—investigate and put an end to these barbaric practices."