(PRESS RELEASE) Assemblyman Jim Patterson was joined by pro-life advocates at a press conference to introduce legislation that would eliminate state funding for any clinic in California, including Planned Parenthood, that provides fetal tissue for research.
The Fetal Tissue Exploitation Prevention Act was introduced Monday in response to several disturbing undercover videos showing Planned Parenthood officials, including the organization’s Southern California medical director, candidly discussing the practice of providing aborted babies in exchange for money.
“If Planned Parenthood’s goal is honestly to provide care for women, let them prove it by ceasing the barbaric practice of providing fetuses for dismemberment. This practice has nothing to do with the mammograms, prenatal care and other important screenings that actually have an impact on women’s health in our state,” Assemblyman Patterson said. “This is a slippery slope that has the potential to become an immoral landslide if we continue to allow these transactions to occur.”
[Click here to subscribe to Pregnancy Help News!]
According to the CA Department of Health Care Services, California Planned Parenthood providers received $230 million in state funds to from 2012-2013.
Current law prohibits anyone from purchasing or selling “cadaveric fetal tissue,” but it does allow the “donation” of tissue for research purposes. Planned Parenthood is currently using a loophole to receive compensation for fetal tissue because a section of a law allows for reimbursement for the “removal, processing, disposal, preservation, quality control, storage, transplantation, or implantation of a part.”
The Fetal Tissue Exploitation Prevention Act is expected to be heard in the Assembly special session on health care requested by Governor Jerry Brown.
Assemblyman Patterson (R-Fresno) represents the 23rd Assembly District in the California Legislature, which includes communities in Fresno and Tulare County.
