Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards testified at a five-hour House committee hearing on Tuesday, defending the abortion provider's $500 million in annual federal funds.
Congressional Republicans said their inquiry into the funding was inspired in part by uncover videos released by The Center for Medical Progress that allege Planned Parenthood's abortion and fetal tissue donation procedures violate the law.
Gathered below are 10 of the most crucial moments from the hearing.
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1. Rep. Chaffetz leads the inquiry — "The question before us is: Does this organization — does Planned Parenthood — really need a federal subsidy?" said House Oversight Chairman Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah. "Does it need federal dollars? Every time we spend a federal dollar, what we're doing is pulling money out of somebody's pocket and we're giving it to somebody else. What I don't like, what I don't want to tolerate, what I don't want to become numb to is wasting those taxpayer dollars . . . As far as I can tell . . . this is an organization that doesn't need federal subsidy."
2. Rep. Love cites lack of mammogram machines — "Planned Parenthood’s annual report says that you are providing over 489,000 breast cancer screenings, and you’ve stated that none of your clinics actually have the mammogram machines. How many of the — how many of your affiliates have those mammogram machines?" asked Rep. Mia Love, R-Utah. "We do not have mammogram machines at our health centers," responded Richards. "If you need a mammogram, you’re referred to a radiological clinic."
3. Rep. Blackburn brings up services offered — "Do you acknowledge that community health centers offer a broader range of services, including mammograms?" asked Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee. Richards replied, "I’m not an expert on what all community health centers provide."
4. Richards' salary in question — Citing a report that described Planned Parenthood's "blowout" parties, first-class travel, and "lucrative" salaries, Chaffetz called out Richards' annual salary, asking, "Your compensation, we're showing based on tax returns, is $590,000, correct?" Richards responded, "That's not my annual compensation. I — actually, my annual compensation is $520,000 a year.'
5. Rep. Connolly accuses colleagues of "misogyny" — "My colleagues say there is no war on women," he said. "Look at how you've been treated, Ms. Richards," said Rep. Gerald E. Connolly, D-Virginia.
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6. Rep. Jordan notes Richards' previous apologies — "You can say all you want — that these [videos] were heavily edited, they were changed — but if that's the case why did Miss Richards apologize for the videos two days after they first surfaced?" asked Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio.
7. Rep. Duncan compares Richards to a criminal — "It seems to me that the apology you offered was like what some criminals do," said Rep. Jimmy Duncan, R-Tennessee. "They're not really sorry for what they have done. They are sorry they got caught and it seems to me that your apology is more because you got caught on these videos. Thank you, Mr. Chairman."
8. Richards says tax dollars don't fund abortion — "No federal funds pay for abortion services, except in the very limited circumstances permitted by law — when the woman has been raped, has been the victim of incest, or when her life is endangered," she said in written testimony.
9. Rep. Walberg promotes community health centers — "Now if we're talking about care for women, I would suggest that the care is there in 13,000 [other women's health care centers], without the controversy of the abortions, the fetal manipulation and potential use of body parts in the wrong way," said Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Michigan. "And I think for the record, if we're talking about women's health care, the issue of where we find it is found in 13,000-plus centers available to women."
10. Rep. DeSantis mentions babies who survive abortions — "Ms. Richards, if a child survives an abortion attempt should it be given nourishment and medical care?" asked Rep. Ron DeSantis, R-Florida. To which Richards responded, "I've never heard of such a circumstance happening . . . in my experience at Planned Parenthood we haven't ever had that kind of circumstance."
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