Idaho Lawmakers Back Child Protection Bill
Idaho Lawmakers Back Child Protection Bill
Washington, D.C. - Idaho Congressmen Mike Simpson and C.L. "Butch" Otter helped the House pass legislation on Wednesday making it a federal crime to knowingly transport a girl across state lines to circumvent a state's law requiring parental involvement in abortion decisions.
Both Idaho lawmakers were cosponsors of the Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act, H.R. 748, which was approved on a 270-157. Its goal is protecting the health and safety of girls by preventing valid state parental involvement laws from being circumvented, while protecting the rights of parents to be involved with the medical decisions of their young daughters.
The bill also requires abortion providers in states where no state parental involvement law exists to notify a parent or guardian of an out-of-state minor before an abortion is performed. However, the measure also includes exceptions for cases of abuse or medical emergencies and when a minor receives authorization from a judge in her home state.
More than 30 states, including Idaho, have enacted parental notification laws. Unfortunately, these laws sometimes are evaded by interstate transportation of minors with the cooperation of abortion providers.
"Our number one priority should be to protect the health and safety of our children," Congressman Simpson said. "Parents are responsible for their children's medical procedures and someone else should not be allowed to take their daughters across state lines to have an abortion without their knowledge or consent."
"We can't leave the way clear for abusive boyfriends or older men who may have committed rape to cover up their crimes and further victimize frightened and confused adolescent girls with secret out-of-state abortions," Congressman Otter said. "States have a right to set their own laws on parental notification, but we can't allow legal differences from state to state to continue offering a safe haven for those exploiting vulnerable young women."
http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/id02_simpson/child_abortion.html