NASHVILLE -- Chairmen of two House and Senate panels announced today they will hold a "fact-finding meeting" on Aug. 19 to examine enforcement of Tennessee's law banning sales of aborted fetuses.
Senate Operations Committee Chairman Mike Bell, R-Riceville, and House Operations Committee Chairman Jeremy Faison, R-Cosby, said the meeting was spurred by the release of two videos by the Center for Medical Progress, an anti-abortion group, "allegedly showing executives of Planned Parenthood discussing prices for intact fetal specimens and methods to destroy a fetus without harming organs or tissues considered valuable for sale to vendors."
"The gruesome videos released by the Center for Medical Progress have implications at Planned Parenthood affiliates nationwide, including those located here in Tennessee," Bell said in a news release.
Executive in the videos "were in national leadership roles in the company," Bell added. "We want the facts about who is watching to ensure that the trafficking of baby parts is not happening in Tennessee and whether or not we need additional rules and regulations to make sure federal and state laws against this horrific practice are enforced."
Tennessee law states no person, agency, corporation, partnership or association shall offer or accept money or anything of value for an aborted fetus. The law is punishable as a Class E felony which carries a one to six-year year jail term and a fine of up to $3,000.
Rep. Faison said, "Regardless of where you stand on abortion, we can all agree that what we have seen Planned Parenthood do is abhorrent! The Tennessee Department of Health must take all precautions to see that his never happens in our state."
The group last week released both edited and unedited videos last week of a Planned Parenthood executive discussing money related to aborted fetus organs and tissues. CNN reported the group later posted what they said was an unedited version to YouTube.
Critics have charged the videos were selectively edited.
Last week, national Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards released a statement saying, "I want to be really clear: The allegation that Planned Parenthood profits in any way from tissue donation is not true. Our donation programs like any other high-quality health care providers follow all laws and ethical guidelines."
Officials from Planned Parenthood of Middle and East Tennessee had no immediate comment.