House Committee to Investigate Planned Parenthood

The House Committee on Energy and Commerce has sent a formal letter to Cecile Richards, President of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA), requesting numerous documents to commence an investigation of the organization. “Pursuant to Rules X and XI of the United States House of Representatives, the Committee on Energy and Commerce is examining the institutional practices and policies of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) and its affiliates, and its handling of federal funding,” writes Committee Chairman Cliff Stearns (R-FL).

PPFA documents requested by the committee include internal audit reports; any reports of improper billing under federally-funded programs; policies in place to prevent overbilling; documentation ensuring that no federal dollars are used to subsidize abortion; audits of PPFA by state agencies; documentation on how many PPFA affiliates receive Title X family planning funding and also provide abortions; policies ensuring compliance with federal mandates to keep Title X funding separate from abortion-related services; summaries of how PPFA detects criminal conduct and policies to prevent or report it; policies to report all cases of suspected sexual abuse including statutory rape; and policies and procedures to ensure that sex trafficking is reported.

An investigation is just that. PPFA is not charged with any wrongdoing. The investigation most certainly results in part from the undercover work done by Live Action where individuals enter PPFA clinics and record what staff is saying to clients. Some of these discussions have been eye-opening and have tarnished the “halo” of goodwill that PPFA has enjoyed for far too long. Stay tuned for developments on this investigation.

Read the Stearns letter here.

Barbara Lyons