Press Release - Congressman Cole Votes to Ensure Parental Notification

Congressman Cole Votes to Ensure Parental Notification

WASHINGTON - Congressman Tom Cole voted today voted for the Child Custody Protection Act (S. 403) which makes it a federal crime to circumvent state parental involvement laws by taking a minor across state lines for an abortion.

"This legislation ensures parents, living in states with parental notification laws, will have that same right if the child goes or is taken to another state for the abortion," Congressman Tom Cole. "This is an important law for the child--it protects them from sexual predators that might take them across the border for an abortion to hide their crime and also if the child has medical conditions in which a parent would be able to inform the abortion provider before the operation."

The first section of this bill makes it a federal crime to transport a minor across state lines to obtain an abortion in another state or foreign country in order to avoid a state law requiring parental involvement in a minor's abortion decision.

The second crucial section of the Child Custody Protection Act makes it a federal crime for the abortion provider to fail to give one of the minor's parents, or a legal guardian if necessary, 24 hours' notice of the minor's abortion decision - or notice by mail if necessary -- before the abortion is performed.

http://www.house.gov/list/press/ok04_cole/parentalnotif06.html