House Passes Child Interstate Abortion Notification Bill

House Passes Child Interstate Abortion Notification Bill
April 27, 2005

WASHINGTON, DC- Congressman Chris Cannon (R-UT) joined with 269 of his colleagues to pass H.R. 748, the Child Interstate Abortion Notification Bill. The bill makes it a Federal offense to knowingly transport a minor across States lines to circumvent a state's abortion parental involvement laws. H.R. 748 also requires that, in a state without a parental notification requirement, abortion providers be required to notify a parent.

"While many states, like Utah, require parental notification or consent before an abortion procedure others, like Nevada, do not. Parents ought to be involved in this very serious decision. Instances throughout the country of non-parents transporting young women across state lines for the purpose of evading the parental involvement laws in the girl's home state do happen and it is a serious concern," Cannon said.

H.R. 748's interstate transportation provision does not apply to minors themselves, or to their parents. It also does not apply in life-threatening emergencies that may require that an abortion be performed immediately.

The parental notification provision also does not apply if the minor states she has been the victim of abuse by a parent and the abortion provider informs the appropriate authorities of such abuse.

"The bill we passed today simply protects the right of parents to be given a chance to help their children through difficult times. It is designed to prevent people - including abusive boyfriends and older men who may have committed rape - from covering up their crimes by pressuring young girls to avoid parental involvement laws by receiving a secret out-of-state abortion," Cannon said.

http://www.house.gov/cannon/Press_2005/april27.htm