Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Planned Parenthood Official, House GOP Lawmakers To Duel At Hearing
The Associated Press: Planned Parenthood Makes First Hill Appearance Since Videos
In Planned Parenthood’s first congressional appearance since being embarrassed by surreptitiously recorded videos, the organization’s president said she is “proud” of its provision of fetal tissue for research but also sought to minimize the organ donations as a small part of its work. Trying to take the offensive, Cecile Richards also criticized the Republicans who control Congress for not investigating David Daleiden and the other anti-abortion activists who made the recordings. (Fram, 9/29)
ABC News: House GOP, Planned Parenthood Chief to Face Off Over Undercover Videos
House conservatives aren't expected to force a government shutdown over Planned Parenthood funding this week, but they are gearing up for a public face off with the organization and its president, Cecile Richards. Richards is set to appear on Capitol Hill today to testify before the House Oversight Committee. (Weinberg, 9/29)
Fox News: Planned Parenthood President Says She's 'Proud' Of Organization's Actions Amid Controversy
Planned Parenthood's president will tell a House committee Tuesday that she is "proud" of the work her organization does, even as the organization is embroiled in a controversy over videos depicting the sale of fetal tissue. Cecile Richards will testify before the House Oversight and Government Reform committee Tuesday morning. It will be her first appearance since the scandal erupted this past July. (9/29)
NPR: Amid Controversy, Head Of Planned Parenthood Testifies Before Committee
The head of Planned Parenthood testifies Tuesday before a House committee investigating secretly recorded videos by a group that accuses Planned Parenthood of profiting from the sale of fetal tissue. (Ludden, 9/29)
In related news, both Planned Parenthood and its opponents are experimenting with strategies to advance their respective positions -
USA Today: Republicans Try New Way To Defund Planned Parenthood, Avoiding Shutdown
Republicans this week will launch a new strategy to try to defund Planned Parenthood now that it's clear that Congress will vote this week to keep the government open without addressing the issue. The House also is expected to consider this week the creation of a select committee to investigate allegations that the nation's largest abortion provider discussed selling tissue and organs from aborted fetuses for profit. Planned Parenthood vehemently denies the allegation, saying that undercover videos taken by anti-abortion activists were heavily edited and misleading. (Kelly, 9/28)
The New York Times: Planned Parenthood To Offer Free S.T.D. Testing On National Pink Out Day
Planned Parenthood, which provides an array of health services, including abortions, through clinics and affiliates nationwide, is under criticism by Republicans over the use of aborted fetuses in medical research. The Republicans want to cut off all federal funding to Planned Parenthood, and some lawmakers have even threatened to shut down the federal government in order to do so. Fighting back, Planned Parenthood has declared Tuesday to be “National Pink Out Day,” and said it expected millions of supporters to rally in the group’s defense. (Herszenhorn, 9/28)
