Stearns Plans to Call HHS Secretary Sebelius to Testify on Planned Parenthood's Tolerance of Criminal Behavior
Taxpayers provided more than $360 million last year to Planned Parenthood
WASHINGTON, Feb. 17, 2011 /
Christian Newswire/ -- In response to videos produced by Live Action showing Planned Parenthood workers willing to conspire in sex trafficking, Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-FL) joined other members in calling for the defunding of that organization. At a news conference last week hosted by Live Action and Susan B. Anthony List, Stearns stated that he plans to call the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), Kathleen Sebelius, to testify on taxpayer funding of Planned Parenthood and that organization's tolerance of sex trafficking and other criminal activities. Stearns is Chairman of the Energy & Commerce Committee's Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, which has jurisdiction over HHS, and the hearing will be scheduled soon.
"Taxpayer funding for Planned Parenthood is increasing, rising from $337 million in 2008 to $363.2 million in 2009," said Stearns. "We have a $14 trillion national debt while running a deficit this year of $1.5 trillion – Planned Parenthood is an egregious abuse of taxpayer funds. Not only does this organization provide about one in every five abortions in this nation, its centers have also been caught violating state sexual assault and child abuse reporting laws, and it has encouraged young girls to lie about their ages to circumvent state reporting laws."
The undercover videos from Live Action expose Planned Parenthood's cover-up of child sex trafficking. In one, a Planned Parenthood manager coaches a man and woman posing as sex traffickers in how to obtain abortions and other services for child sex workers. "Taxpayers are demanding to know how their money is being spent and these videos answer how Planned Parenthood uses public dollars."
