Ros-Lehtinen Reintroduces The Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act

Press Release

Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, a senior member of the Florida Congressional Delegation, reintroduced the Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act (CIANA) H.R. 634 for the 111th Congress. Differing versions of Ros-Lehtinen's CIANA has been approved by the House, but the Senate has yet to approve her version. The legislation was introduced with 106 co-sponsors.

Said Ros-Lehtinen: "Schools need a parent's permission to administer an aspirin. Having this loophole in the laws governing our children is unacceptable and I urge my colleagues in the Senate to see this as the mothers, fathers and grandparents that they are. CIANA is much needed legislation not just to protect state rights, but to also seriously assist local communities in reducing the abortion rate among minors. The time to pass this practical, common sense legislation is now."

The Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act makes it a Federal offense to transport a minor across state lines to circumvent that state's abortion parental notification laws. In addition, the bill will require that in a state without a parental notification requirement, abortion providers are required to notify a parent.

About 80% of the public favors parental notification laws, with a majority of states having enacted such laws. Yet, these laws are often evaded by interstate transportation of minors, often openly encouraged in advertising by abortion providers.

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