Hyde-smith Restarts Effort to BAN Research Using Fetal Tissue FROM Abortions

Wednesday, March 12, 2025
HYDE-SMITH RESTARTS EFFORT TO BAN RESEARCH USING FETAL TISSUE FROM ABORTIONS
‘Protecting Life and Integrity in Research Act’ Would Stop the Use of Taxpayer Funding for Research Using Body Parts of Aborted Children
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), chair of the Senate Pro-Life Caucus, today jumpstarted her goal to end federal support for research involving fetal tissue obtained from abortions and to outlaw trafficking of the body parts of aborted children.
Hyde-Smith on Wednesday reintroduced the
Protecting Life and Integrity in Research Act
(S.987) to prohibit all federal agencies from conducting, funding, approving , or otherwise supporting any research involving human fetal tissues obtained from an induced abortion.  It would also prohibit solicitation or receipt of human fetal tissue resulting from an abortion.
“There are ethical and scientifically valid ways to conduct fetal tissue research without relying on the body parts of aborted babies.  Yet, the federal government currently spends millions of our taxpayer dollars each year funding research that uses tissue from abortions, furthering the dehumanizing practice of fetal tissue trafficking.  It’s time to stop funding this inhumane practice that is an affront to the sanctity of life,”
Senator Hyde-Smith said.
The
National Institutes of Health
, which spent $53 million on human fetal tissue research in 2023, expects to spend $55 million in 2025.
Building support for alternatives to research rooted in abortion, Hyde-Smith emphasized that non-fetal cells
were used
to develop insulin for diabetes and Herceptin for breast cancer, and umbilical cord blood has
treated
thousands of people with blood disorders. Adult stem cells have saved the lives of over
1 million people
worldwide,
treating
cancers, hematologic diseases and autoimmune disorders.
The Protecting Life and Integrity in Research Act would continue to allow the use of fetal tissue obtained after a miscarriage or stillbirth.
Original cosponsors of
S.987
include U.S. Senators James Risch (R-Idaho), James Lankford (R-Okla.), John Kennedy (R-La.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), John Barrasso, M.D. (R-Wyo.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), and Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.).
U.S. Congressman Bob Onder, M.D. (R-Mo.) also introduced a companion measure (HR.2075) in the House of Representatives, with
cosponsors
U.S. Representatives Trent Kelly (R-Miss.), Michael Guest (R-Miss.) and Mike Ezell (R-Miss.).
“The creation of a taxpayer-funded marketplace for babies lost to abortion is a monstrous, barbaric practice from the start.  Every baby, even those lost to abortion, deserves to be treated with human decency and respect – not like science experiments,”
said Congressman Onder.
“I’m proud to introduce this legislation to put that practice to an end.”
Americans United for Life, Catholic Vote, Concerned Women for America LAC, March for Life Action, Students for Life Action, Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, and U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities support this legislation.
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