JEFFERSON CITY — State Sen. David Sater, R-Cassville, has been appointed Vice-Chair of the Senate Interim Committee on the Sanctity of Life by Senate Leader Tom Dempsey, R-St. Charles. One of the responsibilities of the committee will be to investigate the recent revelation that Planned Parenthood is harvesting and selling fetal body parts.

“Last week’s video of an executive describing how Planned Parenthood sells the body parts of aborted unborn children was both shocking and disturbing,” Sen. Sater said. “It highlights just how casual and callous some are towards the life of a child.”

Senator Kurt Schaefer, R-Columbia, was named Chairman and said if these allegations against any facilities in the state prove to be true, they should lose their license and be stripped of all federal funds they receive.

“The second video that surfaced yesterday suggests these aren’t isolated incidents but perhaps part of an organized effort to profit off the body parts of aborted children,” Sen. Sater said. “On top of being immoral and indifferent to life, it is also illegal and should be investigated thoroughly. I intend to work with my colleagues to find out if and how any organizations in Missouri might have been involved and how the legislature should respond.”

The committee will include seven members, and the duties will include conducting an in-depth analysis of the Planned Parenthood business model and methods by which they dispose human remains from aborted fetuses and determining whether any state dollars have been directly used in such activity, as well as other duties. The committee will hold public hearings and issue a report to the General Assembly by Dec. 1, 2015.