Hosteller Votes to Prohibit Transportation of Minors Across State Lines for Abortion

HOSTETTLER VOTES TO PROHIBIT TRANSPORTATION OF MINORS
ACROSS STATE LINES FOR ABORTION

WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Rep. John Hostettler today voted for legislation that would prohibit anyone from bypassing state parental consent laws by transporting a minor across state lines for an abortion.

"This bill will protect minors, who cannot receive medication at school without a parent's permission, from those who would circumvent state laws by taking them to another state for an abortion," said Hostettler. "No minor should undergo an invasive surgical procedure - in this case, one that ends the life of a pre-born baby - when a parent hasn't even been informed."

The Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act makes it a criminal offense to knowingly transport a minor across a state line to circumvent her state's abortion parental consent or notification law. The bill also requires that in a state without a parental notification requirement abortion providers be required to notify a parent if a minor has crossed state lines. The bill passed 270-157.

Numerous states, including Indiana, have enacted laws that require parental notification or parental consent prior to a minor receiving an abortion; however, these laws are often circumvented by interstate transportation of minors.

"As a member of the House Judiciary Committee, I've heard testimony of men who attempted to avoid criminal prosecution for impregnating a minor by driving the girl to another state for an abortion.

"Those who commit statutory rape shouldn't be allowed to destroy the evidence by driving to another state," said Hostettler. "Under current law, any person can take a pregnant girl into his car, drive her to another state and coerce her to get an abortion - all without her parents' knowledge. When a girl is struggling through such frightening circumstances, it's critical that her parents be informed so they can protect and help her."

Abortion providers even target those seeking to violate parental notification laws. In one advertisement in an Indiana Yellow Pages, for example, a Chicago abortion clinic announced in bold letters "No Parental Consent Required."

"It makes no sense to treat abortion differently from any other medical procedure," Hostettler said. "If a minor was taken across state lines to receive an appendectomy or tonsillectomy without parental consent, she would be turned back. But opponents of this bill argue that an adult - even if he is a rapist or a child molester - should be allowed to transport a girl miles from her home, across state lines, for an abortion. This bill would make this outrageous and shameful behavior illegal."

http://www.house.gov/hostettler/News/Hostettler-news-2005-04-27-interstate-abortion.htm