Rep. Cliff Stearns Commends AUL's Groundbreaking Report of Planned Parenthood, Calls for Review and Possibly Hearings to Investigate the Nation's Largest Abortion Provider

The Chairman of the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee says, "Americans United for Life demonstrates egregious abuses of taxpayer funds by Planned Parenthood."

WASHINGTON, July 8, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following the release of Americans United for Life's groundbreaking analysis of the nation's largest abortion business, Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-FL) issued a statement saying his subcommittee "should review the findings of this report and possibly hold a hearing on why taxpayers are funding Planned Parenthood with its record of abuse and violations of state laws."

The Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee is responsible for oversight of programs within its jurisdiction, and to investigate programs where necessary to ensure transparency. Rep. Stearns made his comments after Americans United for Life Action distributed copies of AUL's report, "The Case for Investigating Planned Parenthood," following years of AUL legal team research, poring over more than 20 years of Planned Parenthood records, law enforcement reports, and other material. The report details evidence of systemic financial irregularities within the abortion giant – which receives more than $363 million in taxpayer funding each year.

Rep. Stearns said the following: "Taxpayers deserve accountability, and the report prepared by Americans United for Life demonstrates egregious abuses of taxpayer funds by Planned Parenthood. The legal team at Americans United for Life reviewed two decades of reports, audits, and financial statements regarding Planned Parenthood."

"The report outlines Planned Parenthood's record of violating state sexual assault and child abuse reporting laws, and of encouraging young girls to lie about their ages to circumvent state reporting laws. They also found as government funding of Planned Parenthood rises, so does the number of abortions. They found repeated instances of overbilling government health care programs."

"I believe my Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee should review the findings of this report and possibly hold a hearing on why taxpayers are funding Planned Parenthood with its record of abuse and violations of state laws. The American people deserve a concrete reason for funding Planned Parenthood; a reason I do not believe exists."

AULA President and CEO Dr. Charmaine Yoest observed that momentum for defunding the abortion industry was a "grassroots phenomenon."

A number of states have begun the process of defunding abortion providers, though the efforts in Indiana have garnered the most media attention. Those states include New Jersey, Kansas, Tennessee, North Carolina, New Hampshire, Wisconsin, Texas and Ohio.

The report is one facet of AUL's strategic plan to end taxpayer subsidies to the abortion industry, to protect women from the harms inherent in abortion, and to effectuate legal rights for all human beings. The AUL report documents known and alleged abuses by Planned Parenthood, and is intended to be a tool for use in investigating the nation's largest abortion provider.

"It is time to find out what happens behind Planned Parenthood's closed doors and to receive full accounting for the funds taken from American taxpayers to support the abortion industry," said Dr. Yoest.

For more analysis and information about this project or to download a PDF version of the report, click here.

SOURCE AUL Action