It’s been a rough four weeks for Planned Parenthood. First, it watched the shocking defeat of the most pro-abortion candidate in the history of presidential nominees. But things went from bad to worse this week when the group that thought it escaped punishment for selling baby parts for profits learned it was being recommended for prosecution from the House’s Select Panel on Infant Lives.

A year into the investigation of Cecile Richards’s group, the committee believes it has ample evidence of “potential criminal activity.” Several groups have been swept up in the panel’s net, including Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast, StemExpress, DaVinci Biosciences, and others who had referrals to buy “tissue.” “They justify the existence of the panel and its investigations,” Rep. Mia Love (R-Utah) said. For Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), who’s led the charge to hold these groups accountable, this validates the long and difficult process of trying to bring Planned Parenthood to justice. “Many years from now, we’ll look back on this practice as a dark and horrible time,” a solemn Rep. Joe Pitts (R-Pa.) remarked. Fortunately, he and a host of pro-life leaders are doing their very best to stop it.

With the clouds of suspicion still hanging over Richards’s group, the new Congress shouldn’t hesitate to use the reconciliation process to redirect tax dollars away from Planned Parenthood to community health centers who operate under the law. Last year, Congress blazed a trail in preparation for a president who understands the value of every person, born and unborn. On Election Day, that’s exactly what voters delivered. On both the federal and state levels, voters empowered the pro-life party to bring an end to the forced partnership between taxpayers and Planned Parenthood.

Originally published here.

Thursday Is the Pitts’s

Representative Joe Pitts (R-Pa.), a man of deep faith who House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) called the conservative conscience of the House of Representatives, is retiring this year after more than four decades of public service. [Thursday] night, FRC and other organizations that focus on the values issues that have made America great had the opportunity to honor Rep. Pitts for his decades of service. He started his career in service to children as a teacher, then joined the Air Force to serve the country and served three tours in Vietnam. Then, more than four decades ago, Pitts began public service, serving for twenty-four years as a state representative in Pennsylvania, and since 1997, the entire country through his service in the House of Representatives.

While serving in Congress for almost two decades, Pitts had a number of key roles. When he first took office, Pitts was appointed assistant whip, but he also served in a number of other capacities including on the Energy and Commerce Committee and as the first and only Chairman of the Values Action Team (“VAT”). FRC played a key role in VAT’s founding in the late 90’s. For the past few years, Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-Mo.) served as co-chair of VAT, and with Rep. Pitts’ departure, Hartzler is assuming the role of VAT Chairman. Hartzler emceed Pitts’ reception and there announced that her co-chairs for the 115th Congress will be Reps. Robert Aderholt (R-Ala.), Jody Hice (R-Ga.) and Randy Hultgren (R-Ill.). During his reception, a number of Rep. Pitts’ colleagues spoke, calling him a rebel with a cause and recounting stories of his service and his reputation for standing strong for conservative family values. In fact, because of Rep. Pitts’s commitment to conservative values, his colleagues admitted to often looking at the voting board on the House floor to see how Rep. Pitts was voting on legislation, as his votes helped to direct their own.

[Thursday] night, I had the pleasure of presenting Rep. Pitts a plaque from the coalition of values organizations who worked so closely with him to advance life, religious freedom and family values. When he accepted the award he told a few stories of his time in service and some of the things he’s learned along his life’s journey, and he recounted that there are many men and women of integrity serving in Congress. In light of Pitts’ legacy, and in looking forward to seeing other representatives stand for values as he has, the new VAT leadership has created a new award, the Joseph R. Pitts award, which will be awarded each year at the Values Voter Summit to a member of Congress who demonstrates a commitment to conservative values.

Not only will Rep. Pitts’s legacy persist through the members of Congress he has worked with, prayed with and influenced, but Asbury University, where Pitts attended and met his beloved wife, Virginia, has created a Center for Public Policy in his name, where Pitts will share his wisdom with the next generation of America’s leaders and statesmen.

Originally published here.

Gaines’ Pastor Drops by ‘Washington Watch’

In one of his few public interviews since the made-up BuzzFeed controversy, Pastor Jimmy Seibert joined me on “Washington Watch” Thursday to talk about the sermon that’s gotten so much attention — and put a spotlight on the stars of HGTV’s beloved “Fixer Uppers.”

Originally published here.

This is a publication of the Family Research Council. Mr. Perkins is president of FRC.