ACLU Urges Speaker Ryan to Disband Select Panel Attacking Women’s Healthcare

WASHINGTON — The American Civil Liberties Union joined more than 175 Democratic members of Congress in calling on House Speaker Paul Ryan to disband an investigative panel that has been issuing subpoenas to health care providers and medical researchers around the country.

Louise Melling, ACLU deputy legal director, had the following reaction:

“By issuing broad and baseless subpoenas, the Select Investigative Panel is not only wasting time and taxpayer money, but also violating the civil liberties of health care providers, medical researchers, and staff. This panel’s actions are clearly meant to harass and intimidate healthcare providers to prevent them from providing constitutionally protected care women need. Speaker Ryan would do well to focus on things that would protect women’s health, not put the livelihoods and privacy of doctors at risk.”