WASHINGTON D.C. -- Utah Congressman Jason Chaffetz was front and center on the national political stage Tuesday as he chaired a committee hearing that focused on funding for Planned Parenthood.
The president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America spent hours answering questions about her organization's budget and political activity, in light of a recently released video of a Planned Parenthood executive talking about the sale of fetal tissue for medical research.
"The question before us today is does this organization, does Planned Parenthood really need federal subsidy?" Chaffetz said.
The Committee's ranking Democrat, Rep. Elijah Cummings of Maryland, defended Planned Parenthood and said his Republican colleagues were caving to their party's extreme elements.
The way we conduct ourselves will demonstrate whether this committee is seeking integrity in our investigation or is being usurped by the most extreme forces of partisan warfare," Cummings said.
Richards said her organization doesn't use federal money for abortions, adding American women rely on Planned Parenthood.
"One in five women in this country has sought health care at some point in their lives through Planned Parenthood," Richards said.
