Texas Resolution Honoring Cecile Richards Sparks Controversy
Amidst a mix of tributes to notable Texans, a resolution intended to honor Cecile Richards, former president of Planned Parenthood, has become a focal point of debate. Although Richards’ leadership of the nation’s largest abortion services provider is well-documented, the proposed resolution notably omits any mention of abortion.
Texas House Resolution 236, introduced by Rep. Donna Howard, D-Austin, seeks to commemorate Richards’ contributions as a prominent voice in reproductive health. Richards, who passed away from brain cancer at 67, was praised for her advocacy in the resolution, which states she “valiantly upheld the importance of the organization’s services.”
The resolution explores Richards’ background as the daughter of former Texas Gov. Ann Richards and civil rights attorney David Richards, highlighting her founding of the Texas Freedom Network, role as deputy chief of staff to Rep. Nancy Pelosi, and leading Planned Parenthood from 2006 to 2018. Richards is credited with expanding the organization’s influence during her tenure.
While the resolution acknowledges her achievements, including the founding of Supermajority and receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Joe Biden in 2024, it does not address the topic of abortion.
Under Richards’ leadership, Planned Parenthood’s annual report for 2019-2020 recorded 354,871 abortions, a significant increase from the start of her presidency. By the end of her term, the organization’s annual abortion numbers had risen by almost 70,000.
This omission led to the resolution being withdrawn after heated debate, which also halted tributes for others, including conservative activist Jill Glover and U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee. The resolution was initially grouped with tributes to Glover and Corey Comperatore, a man who died protecting his family during an attack on former President Donald Trump.
Republican lawmakers, such as Rep. Andy Hopper, R-Decatur, criticized the resolution, stating, “If you vote for this calendar, you are voting to honor a woman who is largely responsible for the extermination of millions of young Americans.”
Rep. Nate Schatzline, R-Fort Worth, urged colleagues to reject it as a matter of conscience. “A yes vote to this calendar today is to silence the voices of those who have no voice,” he remarked.
Rep. Tony Tinderholt, R-Arlington, emphasized the importance of honoring the “defenseless,” arguing, “What we’re doing is we’re forcing a record vote to remove this so that we can honor the 60-plus million innocent, unborn, defenseless children that were murdered in the U.S. The organization that did it, she was in charge of.”
Democratic representatives, including Rep. Ramon Romero, D-Fort Worth, and Rep. Ann Johnson, D-Houston, opposed the protests, but the resolution’s future remains uncertain as it returns to committee review.
Richards’ tenure at Planned Parenthood was marked by controversy, particularly following the release of undercover videos in 2015. These videos, produced by the Center for Medical Progress, allegedly showed staff discussing the sale of fetal tissue, sparking investigations. Richards denied any misconduct in response to these allegations.
During a September 2015 hearing before the House Oversight & Government Reform Committee, Richards addressed misconceptions about Planned Parenthood’s services, stating, “There aren’t any Planned Parenthood clinics, I believe, to the best of my knowledge, not any have mammogram machines at their facilities,” but noted that referrals for mammograms were made depending on state arrangements.
This article was originally written by www.christianpost.com
