House Democrats Pull Bill After GOP Seeks Parental Consent For Contraception

Main Category: Sexual Health / STDs
Also Included In: Women's Health / Gynecology;  Pediatrics / Children's Health
Article Date: 26 Jun 2008 - 10:00 PST

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House Democratic leaders on Tuesday "abruptly pulled" a bill (HR 5876) related to child abuse in residential treatment programs after Republican leaders sought to amend the measure to require parental consent before new prescriptions were given, including those for contraception, Roll Call reports.

According to Roll Call, members are allowed an opportunity to send the bill back to committee to make changes by filing a motion to recommit. House Education and Labor Committee Chair George Miller (D-Calif.) pulled the child abuse measure Tuesday after Republican leaders filed a motion to recommit.

Miller said that Democrats "just want to take a look" at what the parental consent measure would do, adding, "I didn't feel comfortable asking people to vote for it." House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) said that some House Democrats would have joined Republicans in supporting the parental consent provision and that "Democratic leadership thwarted their will" by pulling the bill. Miller said the bill likely will be brought back to the House floor after members have examined the parental consent provision (Bendery, Roll Call, 6/24).

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