(Des Moines, IA) A bill that bans the sale and experimentation on unborn infant remains advanced out of an Iowa House subcommittee on Tuesday. The bill, HF 2140 sponsored by State Representative Sandy Salmon (R-Denver, also provides a process for handling the remains of unborn infants in any event that leads to the early end of a pregnancy.
“Deceased unborn infants should have the same respect as other human beings. Unborn infants should not be disposed of as ‘medical waste’ no matter how they die or are killed. Further, dead unborn infants bodily remains should not be exploited for scientific or financial gain,” Salmon said during the subcommittee meeting.
The legislation follows a series of videos released over the summer by the Center for Medical Progress that implicated Planned Parenthood in the sale of preborn infant remains and the use of a partial birth abortion procedure in order to preserve those remains. Both practices are violations of federal law.
“This past summer the investigative journalist organization Center for Medical Progress released videos exposing a leading abortionist group being involved in exploiting aborted unborn infants through the buying and selling of their body parts and organs for financial gain and experimentation. We found this to be heart-rending, horrifying, and unconscionable. We sought to have the Attorney General investigate to make sure this wasn’t happening in Iowa. But he refused, saying that even though this violated federal law, that there was no state law prohibiting it. This bill is brought forward to put a state law in place outlawing such barbaric and cruel practices,” Salmon said when she brought the bill forward.
While it is not a pro-life bill per se the bill does have the support of some in the pro-life community.
“We support efforts to ban the sale and experimentation on the remains of aborted children and we are working with legislators in both chambers on language that has the best chance of protecting the unborn and ensuring there isn’t profit made on the trafficking of their body parts,” Jenifer Bowen, executive director of Iowa Right to Life told Caffeinated Thoughts.
The bill is also co-sponsored by State Representatives Zach Nunn (R-Bondurant), Greg Heartsill (R-Melcher-Dallas), Dean Fisher (R-Garwin), Steven Holt (R-Denison), Stan Gustafson (R-Cumming), Matt Windschitl (R-Missouri Valley), Dawn Pettengill (R-Mt. Auburn), John Kooiker (R-Boyden), Tedd Gassman (R-Scarville), Ralph Watts (R-Adel), Larry Sheets (R-Moulton), Terry Baxter (R-Garner), Walt Rogers (R-Cedar Falls), and Joel Fry (R-Osceola).
The bill will next be heard by the Iowa House Human Resources Committee.