Duval Times

U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) has called for a federal investigation into Planned Parenthood's alleged involvement in providing human fetal tissue for research purposes. The documents revealed a collaboration between Planned Parenthood and the University of California at San Diego (UCSD), where the former provided aborted fetal tissue to the latter in exchange for compensation and intellectual property rights over the tissue.

In a letter addressed to U.S. Department of Justice Attorney General Merrick Garland and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Inspector General Christi Grimm, Senator Rubio expressed his concerns over the matter. He highlighted the potential violation of federal law, which prohibits the transfer of aborted fetal tissue for compensation, and urged for a thorough investigation into the issue.

Senator Rubio stated, "Not only was Planned Parenthood providing the aborted fetal tissue in exchange for ‘valuable consideration,’ emails between the groups show that Planned Parenthood and UCSD actively collaborated and met at regular intervals to discuss the progress of the research."

The letter further revealed details of a "Biological Material Transfer Agreement" signed between UCSD and Planned Parenthood in 2009, outlining the terms of providing fetal tissue for research purposes. The agreement included provisions for intellectual property rights and compensation, raising concerns about potential legal violations.

Senator Rubio also raised questions regarding the ongoing nature of the agreement between UCSD and Planned Parenthood, the number of aborted babies provided for research, the financial transactions between the two entities, and the monetary gains for Planned Parenthood from controlling the intellectual property rights of the fetal tissue.

The call for investigation comes amidst existing scrutiny on similar practices, with the University of Pittsburgh already under investigation for its involvement in experimentation on aborted fetuses. Senator Rubio emphasized the need for transparency and accountability, particularly considering the substantial taxpayer funding received by both Planned Parenthood and UCSD.

The letter concluded with a request for a prompt response from the authorities, emphasizing the importance of addressing the issue and providing clarity on the alleged violations. The American people, as highlighted by Senator Rubio, deserve answers regarding the use of aborted fetal tissue in research activities and the compliance with federal laws governing such practices.