U.S. lawmakers are investigating reports that Chinese authorities harvested the human organs of prisoners for profit.

At a hearing on Capitol Hill, Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., alleged that kidneys, livers, lungs, hearts, and corneas were taken from deceased political and religious dissidents.

Rep. Smith said China's military doctors may be involved and called the harvesting a "barbaric practice that must be stopped."

Earlier this year, China's health ministry said it plans to abolish the practice of harvesting organs from death-row inmates.