Press Releases

U.S. Congressman Rick Allen (R-Ga.-12), member of the House Education and Workforce Committee, today questioned Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Sylvia Burwell on whether the department would investigate the horrific practices of Planned Parenthood brought to light in several recent videos.

When asked by Allen whether HHS, which provides federal funding to Planned Parenthood, intends to investigate the organization’s disturbing practices, Burwell declined to provide a commitment that the department would take action to look into the allegations and referred the matter to the Department of Justice.

Video of Congressman Allen’s questioning can be viewed HERE. Excerpts can also be found below.

Rep. Rick Allen (R-GA): “I would like some commitment from you here today on when your department will conduct an investigation on this very, very serious matter…Can you tell me when we're going to do something about that?”

Sec. Burwell: “This is an important issue and one that there is passionate and emotion and belief on many sides of the issue and want to respect that … With regard to investigating or looking into those issues, as I said, because it is a statutory legal issue, the Department of Justice and the Attorney General has said she has taken those issues under review and will determine what the appropriate next step is.”

Allen recently supported congressional investigation of Planned Parenthood on the House floor and in a letter to House committee leaders. He is also a cosponsor of H.R. 3134, the Defund Planned Parenthood Act, to withdraw all federal funding to the organization.