Republicans in the Iowa House have passed a bill that would create a state ban on both the sale AND donation of fetal tissue from abortions for use in medical research. Representative Matt Windschitl is a Republican from Missouri Valley. “This is about making sure that our children and the children in the state of Iowa are not being used as guinea pigs in research,” Windschitl says.

It is against FEDERAL law to profit from the sale of fetal tissue, but this past summer’s release of videos showing Planned Parenthood officials in other states discussing the harvesting of fetal body parts created a political fire storm. Representative Sandy Salmon, a Republican from Janesville, says those videos were “heart-rending and horrifying.” “Life-saving medical research cannot and should not require the willful destruction of human lives and the buying and selling of their dismembered body parts for it to go forward,” Salmon says.

Representative Joel Fry, a Republican from Osceola, says a state ban on fetal body part sales would be a “pro-active” move. “This bill comes to us because of many constituents across the state who are interested in having this conversation and making sure that we, in the state of Iowa, aren’t participating or practicing in fetal body part trafficking.” Critics say the bill would hinder research at the University of Iowa and Iowa State University.

Representative Beth Wessel-Kroeschell, a Democrat from Ames, says research using cells from fetal tissue holds great promise for curing tragic diseases. “House File 2329 puts politics above good science and medicine,” Wessel-Kroeschell says. Wessel-Kroeschell says Republicans know the bill will not be considered by Democrats who control the debate agenda in the Iowa Senate. “This bill is dead in the senate. It’s going nowhere,” Wessel-Kroeschell says. “This is a political move in the House.” House Republicans argued fetal tissue from stillborn children and miscarriages could still be used in research if the bill becomes law.

Representative Bobby Kaufmann of Wilton was the only Republican in the House who voted against the bill. One Democrat in the House was absent yesterday (Wednesday) but all the other Democrats voted against the ban.

(Radio Iowa)