House Sets Votes On Two Bills In Response To Planned Parenthood Videos

Rep. Trent Franks, R-Ariz., center, speaks during a news conference on the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, May 13, 2015. Republicans predicted House passage Wednesd... Rep. Trent Franks, R-Ariz., center, speaks during a news conference on the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, May 13, 2015. Republicans predicted House passage Wednesday of the late-term abortion ban after dropping rape provisions that angered female GOP lawmakers and forced party leaders into an embarrassing retreat. Franks is joined by, from left, Rep. Joseph Pitts, R-Pa., Rep. Marcia Blackburn, R-Tenn., Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., Rep. Vicky Hartzler, R-Tenn., Rep. Mike Kelly, R-Pa., and Rep. Diane Black, R-Tenn. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) MORE LESS
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The House will vote on two bills next week that come in response to a series of sting videos accusing Planned Parenthood of breaking the law, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) announced from the House floor Friday.

The first, sponsored by Rep. Diane Black (R-TN), would place a one-year moratorium on federal funding to any Planned Parenthood affiliates that conduct abortions while investigations into the videos’ claims continue.

The second, McCarthy said, “adds criminal penalties to people who violate the Born Alive act, for medical providers who fail to provide medical care to a baby who survives the abortion procedure.” It will be sponsored by Rep. Trent Franks (R-AZ), he said.

“Americans are rightfully outraged by what was depicted in these videos and Congress and the American people have a right to know exactly what is happening,” McCarthy said. “These two critical bills will ensure that we will get all the facts and protect those who cannot protect themselves.”

Since the release of the heavily edited videos — the claims of which Planned Parenthood vehemently refutes — anti-abortion lawmakers have rallied against the reproductive health organization and have called for the elimination of federal funds to Planned Parenthood.

The move to vote on the two House bills appears to be an attempt by leadership to offer an alternative route for conservative lawmakers to express their anger over the videos, rather than flirt with a possible shutdown of the government over Planned Parenthood’s federal funding.

Planned Parenthood Action Fund issued a statement from vice president of communications Eric Ferrero in response to news of the vote:

“Now that the false claims against Planned Parenthood have fallen apart, politicians are heartlessly scrambling to attack women’s access to health care however they can,” Ferrero said. “It’s clear those behind these attacks have always had a clear agenda: to ban abortion, and cut millions of women and men across the country from necessary reproductive health care. They’re continuing to push that agenda no matter how many they hurt in the process.”

Update: This story has been updated to include a statement from Planned Parenthood.

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