Today, U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-03) introduced the Protecting Life and Integrity in Research Act which will target the horrific practice of trafficking infant body parts for profit and ensure taxpayers never have to foot the bill for the endangerment of human life.

On March 29, 2017, yet another disturbing video was released of Planned Parenthood officials discussing the harvesting of babies’ organs for sale. Despite the organization’s claims that it did not profit from the sale of fetal tissue, accounting documents provided during the Select Panel on Infant Lives investigation exposed that Planned Parenthood did in fact generate revenue trafficking infant body parts.

Currently, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) provides a portion of its annual appropriations to fund basic biology research using human fetal tissue. The Protecting Life and Integrity in Research Act will allow the NIH to conduct research on donated stillbirth and miscarriage fetal tissue, but prohibits authorization of research on fetal tissue obtained from an induced abortion.

“The fact that an industry has been created around the sale of aborted baby parts is deeply disturbing and that was the motivating factor to introduce this important legislation,” Luetkemeyer said. “Congress must ensure that taxpayers’ dollars are held in the highest regard when it comes to federally funded research involving fetal tissue.”

Pro-Life groups supporting the legislation are the Susan B. Anthony List and Family Research Council.