Latest Subpoenas to Health Care Providers Are a Dangerous Step, Pro-Choice Caucus Chairs Say

Washington, D.C. –U.S. Reps. Diana DeGette (CO-01) and Louise Slaughter (NY-25), co-chairs of the House Pro-Choice Caucus, strongly object to subpoenas sent today by Chairman Marsha Blackburn of the Select Investigative Panel to compel the testimony of several Maryland health-care organizations and a physician who was identified by name.

“This latest demagoguery by the Select Panel is a dangerous attempt to intimidate legitimate health care providers and women,” DeGette and Slaughter said. “It serves to demonize people performing constitutionally protected health procedures and exposes all involved to threats and potential violence.

“Such tactics are consistent with ongoing attempts by the Select Panel to intimidate scientific and clinical researchers who use fetal tissue to develop therapies that could help save lives for those inflicted with diseases such as Alzheimer's. The subpoenas were sent on the very day that the perpetrator of the deadly November shooting at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado was declared incompetent to stand trial. This only highlights the hazards of stirring up suspicions of illicit activity through inference, loose talk, and irresponsible allegations.”