A top Obama administration official wouldn’t say Wednesday whether she would support creating a special commission to study fetal tissue research.
Republican Rep. Joe Barton asked Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Mathews Burwell whether she would be OK with establishing a group to examine the issue, which has received public scrutiny after videos were released last year attacking Planned Parenthood for supplying aborted fetal tissue to biomedical companies.
“The last time the issue of fetal tissue research was studied was during the Reagan administration,” the Texas Republican told Burwell at a hearing of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. “Would you support a new commission to take a look at this issue?”
Burwell didn’t say whether she would support the creation of such a panel, instead saying she would want to know more about the types of questions the panel would be asking. She defended fetal tissue research, noting that it has helped lead to the creation of numerous vaccines and treatments for a variety of medical conditions.
“I would welcome an opportunity to understand more fully what are the issues,” Burwell responded to Barton.
Republicans and abortion foes have objected to Planned Parenthood’s involvement in supplying aborted fetal tissue, calling for increased scrutiny of the practice. House Republicans have created a special panel on fetal tissue, led by Rep. Marsha Blackburn, which plans to hold its first hearing March 2.
Burwell said she agrees the issue is one of “great emotion.” “I respect there are differing opinions on the issue,” she said.
A key point of dispute has been over whether Planned Parenthood profited from the sale of the tissue, which would be illegal under federal law. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, the lead Democrat appointed to the fetal tissue panel, asked Burwell whether she knows whether recipients of federal funds — including Planned Parenthood — have profited from human tissue.
“There is no ability to make a profit on the sale of fetal tissue?” the Illinois Democrat asked.
Burwell said federal grantees self-attest they have not broken state or federal laws when they’re awarded federal money as well as when it is renewed.
