Here’s What You Need to Know About the Parental Notification Abortion Bills
- Sep 9, 2006 - 1
Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act (H.R. 748)
What
A bill “to prevent the transportation of minors in circumvention of certain laws relating to abortion, and for other purposes.” This bill also places requirements on abortion doctors: “A physician who knowingly performs or induces an abortion on a minor in violation of the requirements of this section shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.”
Why
This bill will help protect parents’ rights in states that have enacted parental notification or consent laws regarding abortions for minor girls. Twenty-nine states already have laws requiring the consent or notification of at least one parent prior to a minor obtaining an abortion. The problem is that state parental notification and consent laws are often circumvented when minors are transported to other states that do not require parental involvement. This bill would make it a federal offense to transport a minor across state lines for the purpose of obtaining an abortion without the consent of a parent. It would also require an abortion doctor in a state without a parental involvement law to inform a parent before he or she performs an abortion on a minor who lives in a different state.
The Good News
The House of Representatives, in a 270-157 vote, passed this bill on April 27, 2005.
Child Custody Protection Act (S. 403)
What
A bill “to prohibit taking minors across State lines in circumvention of laws requiring the involvement of parents in abortion decisions.”
Why
This bill will also help protect the rights of parents and ensure the well being of young girls. It is essentially the same bill without the clause requiring physicians to ensure the notification of the minor’s parent(s).
The Good News
The Senate, in a bipartisan 65-34 vote, passed this bill on July 25, marking the first time the Senate has passed such a proposal. Until the action, the Senate had never voted on such legislation, even though the House of Representatives had approved a similar bill four times.
A Stipulation
Because the versions approved by the Senate and the House of Representatives differ, a conference committee—consisting of members from both houses—must reconcile the two already-passed versions so that the President can sign the measure into law.
The Bad News
After this bill passed, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist moved for the bill to go to a conference committee in order to reconcile its differences with the House version. Sen. Richard Durbin, D.-Ill., the assistant minority leader, objected to this routine request, thereby halting the advancement of the bill. Durbin’s opposition is an attempt to kill the bill by “running out the clock” as the 109th Congress ends. If Senator Durbin is successful in stopping this bill’s progress, the House and Senate will be required to vote on and pass these bills again in the upcoming 110th Congress.
Take Action and Make a Difference
If you agree that young girls from states with parental notification laws should not be able to receive abortions in another state without their parents’ consent, and if you agree that abortion doctors should be held accountable to ensure that parents know before their daughter receives an abortion, then please tell your senators to demand that the Democratic leadership withdraw their objection. It is vital that we contact them via phone and/or e-mail to demand that the Child Custody Protection Act makes it to conference. You can reach your senators by dialing the Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121. If you prefer email, just click here and follow the instructions.
For your convenience, the fourteen Democratic senators who voted in favor of the bill are listed below, along with their phone numbers. Please contact these senators and ask them to demand that their leadership allow S. 403 to go to conference.
We must seek to save every life possible and help young women receive the guidance they need before making a decision of such gravity. Thank you for caring enough to help protect these young girls and to offer greater hope for a full life for the precious unborn lives inside them.
| Evan Bayh (IN) | 202-224-5623 |
| Robert C. Byrd (WV) | 202-224-3954 |
| Thomas R. Carper (DE) | 202-224-2441 |
| Kent Conrad (ND) | 202-224-2043 |
| Byron L. Dorgan (ND) | 202-224-2551 |
| Daniel K. Inouye (HI) | 202-224-3934 |
| Tim Johnson (SD) | 202-224-2321 |
| Herb Kohl (WI) | 202-224-5653 |
| Mary L. Landrieu (LA) | 202-224-5824 |
| Bill Nelson (FL) | 202-224-5274 |
| Benjamin E. Nelson (NE) | 202-224-6551 |
| Mark L. Pryor (AR) | 202-224-2353 |
| Harry Reid (NV) | 202-224-3542 |
| Ken Salazar (CO) | 202-224-5852 |
Further Learning
Learn more about: Family, Parenting, Life, Abortion, Citizenship, Legislation, National
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1 On Sep 1st, 2006, at 4:41pm, Jean Closson wrote:
A great article and well written