House Subcommittee Hears Testimony on Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act

Main Category: Abortion
Article Date: 05 Mar 2005 - 12:00 PDT

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The House Subcommittee on the Constitution on Thursday heard testimony on a bill... (HR 748) that would make it a federal crime to circumvent a state's parental notification or consent law by transporting a pregnant minor to a state without such a law in order for her to undergo abortion, the AP/San Francisco Chronicle reports (Kellman, AP/San Francisco Chronicle, 3/3). The bill, called the Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act, includes an exception if an abortion is necessary to save the life of a pregnant minor (Kaiser Daily Reproductive Health Report, 1/31). In addition, the measure would allow minors seeking abortion in other states to gain judicial bypass from a judge in their home state to avoid parental notification, according to the AP/Chronicle (AP/San Francisco Chronicle, 3/3). Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) in January said that passing such legislation is one of the top 10 legislative priorities for Republicans in Congress this session (Kaiser Daily Reproductive Health Report, 1/31). "No one should be able to circumvent state laws by performing an abortion in another state on a minor daughter without parental consent," Marcia Carroll of Lancaster, Pa., said during testimony. Carroll said that the family of her daughter's boyfriend took the 14-year-old girl, who had decided to continue with her pregnancy, to a New Jersey abortion clinic and refused to take her home until she had an abortion, according to the AP/Chronicle. Opponents of the measure say that it would prevent pregnant minors from "abusive" families from accessing abortion and would "punish well-meaning relatives, friends and doctors who try to help," according to the AP/Chronicle. Laura Murphy, director of the American Civil Liberties Union's Washington legislative office, said, "This legislation will not create healthy family communication where it does not already exist, and it ignores the plight of those young people who need support most" (AP/San Francisco Chronicle, 3/3).

"Reprinted with permission from kaisernetwork.org kaisernetwork.org. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Reproductive Health Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at www.kaisernetwork.org/dailyreports/repro The Kaiser Daily Reproductive Health Report is published for kaisernetwork.org, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation . © 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.

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