Congressman Onder Introduces Bill to End the Trafficking of Aborted Babies
Wednesday, March 12, 2025
Washington, D.C. – Congressman Bob Onder (R-MO-03) introduced the Protecting Life and Integrity in Research Act alongside Congressman Chris Smith, Chair of the House Pro-Life Caucus, to defend the dignity of unborn children killed by abortion.
This legislation would end taxpayer support of any research using fetal tissue obtained from an abortion as well as the solicitation of such tissue. It would also close any loopholes in the law allowing for the use of body parts obtained via abortion in federally funded research projects. It does not include restrictions on tissue collected from miscarriages and stillbirths.
“The creation of a taxpayer-funded marketplace for babies lost to abortion is a monstrous, barbaric practice. Every baby, including those lost to abortion, deserves to be treated with human decency and respect – not like raw material for science experiments,” said Congressman Onder. “I’m proud to introduce this legislation to put that practice to an end.”
“Research that exploits even one unborn child is barbaric and unconscionable; the federal government must stop using taxpayer dollars to fund research that uses fetal tissue from elective abortion,” said Congressman Smith, author of the Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Reauthorization Act of 2015 , which authorized funding of $265 million for life-affirming cord blood and stem cell research and treatment. “Instead, we should be investing in ethical alternatives to fetal tissue research, like adult stem cells, human pluripotent stem cells, and umbilical cord blood, which are unlocking treatments for millions of patients worldwide.”
“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 Protecting Life and Integrity in Research Act would stop the federal government from conducting, funding, or supporting experiments on aborted baby body parts – a barbaric and gruesome practice. Thank you, Rep. Onder, for protecting the dignity of babies tragically killed by abortion," said Hon. Marilyn Musgrave, Vice President of Government Affairs, Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America.
Under the Biden Administration, Trump-era restrictions on human fetal tissue research by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) were eliminated as well as the ethical advisory board dedicated to maintaining rigorous ethical standards for such research. The result was tens of millions of taxpayer dollars spent on research using human fetal tissue, much of which was collected from aborted babies.
A companion piece of legislation has been introduced in the Senate by Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Chair of the Senate Pro-Life Caucus.
Please see the full list of cosponsors below:
Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ-05), Rep. Sheri Biggs (R-SC-03), Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN-02), Rep. Michael Cloud (R-TX-27), Rep. Eli Crane (R-AZ-02), Rep. Chris Smith (co-lead) (R-NJ-04), Rep. Mike Ezell (R-MS-04), Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-WI-06), Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA-14), Rep. Mark Green (R-TN-07), Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-CA-01), Rep. Jake Ellzey (R-TX-06), Rep. Randy Weber (R-TX-14), Rep. Pete Stauber (R-MN-08), Rep. Keith Self (R-TX-03), Rep. Gary Palmer (R-AL-06), Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD-01), Rep. Bob Latta (R-OH-05), Rep. Michael Guest (R-MS-03), Rep. Mary Miller (R-IL-15), Rep. Trent Kelly (R-MS-01).
The bill has also received endorsements from SBA Pro-Life America, National Right to Life Committee, Catholic Vote, March for Life Action, and Students for Life Action.
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