Earlier this month, Congressman Jones voted for H.R. 3134, the Defund Planned Parenthood Act of 2015, which would cut off federal funding to Planned Parenthood for a year until Congress receives certification that their affiliates do not perform abortion.
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Richards was testifying before the House Oversight Committee, which began investigating the organization after sting videos were released by an anti-abortion group that allegedly showed Planned Parenthood executives discussing the sale of fetal tissue.
Republicans on the House oversight and government reform committee pounced. Her prepared remarks contained little her organization has not already said since the abortion foes began releasing the videos in July.
While the hearings continue in Washington, over 200 Planned Parenthood supporters, staff and volunteers rallied in downtown LA at Los Angeles City Hall South Lawn to show their support. In response to the allegations, it launched a social media campaign aimed at correcting misinformation and rallying the support of women. She said the videos were edited and misleading.
“That has absolutely nothing to do with young women who need a breast exam”, Chaffetz said.
Tuesday’s hearing quickly became contentious as Republican lawmakers accused the group of being a more political advocacy organization that wastes federal money rather than a health care group that uses taxpayer dollars in a meaningful way.
Another representative came to the Planned Parenthood president’s defense. He also accused the group of lavishly spending on travel, hosting “blowout parties” and paying “exorbitant salaries”.
Richards said shifting Planned Parenthood’s federal funds to community clinics, which Republicans favor, would restrict access to healthcare, particularly for low-income, uninsured and rural patients.
“Planned Parenthood doesn’t provide everything that people sometimes claim they do, so I have no fear that if we defunded Planned Parenthood that women would suddenly not be cared for”.
“No federal funds pay for abortion services“, she said in prepared remarks.
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Democrat Elijah Cummings called the Republicans hypocritical.
