SECTION: CAPITOL HILL HEARING TESTIMONY

LENGTH: 630 words

COMMITTEE: HOUSE JUDICIARY

SUBCOMMITTEE: CONSTITUTION

HEADLINE: CHILD CUSTODY PROTECTION ACT

BILL-NO:  
H.R. 476             Retrieve Bill Tracking Report
                      Retrieve Full Text of Bill

TESTIMONY-BY: ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN, REPRESENTATIVE

AFFILIATION: 18TH DISTRICT, FLORIDA

BODY:
Representative 18th District, Florida Ileana Ros-Lehtinen

H.R. 476, The Child Custody Protection Act

Subcommittee on the Constitution,

Thursday, September 5, 2001

Abortion is perhaps one of the most life-altering and life- threatening of procedures.

It leaves lasting medical, emotional and psychological consequences and, as noted by the Supreme Court, "particularly so when the patient is immature."

Although Roe v. Wade legalized abortion in 1973, it did not legalize the right for persons, other than a parent or guardian, to decide what is best for a child. Nor did it legalize the right for strangers to place our children in danger that is often described as being potentially fatal. My legislation, The Child Custody Protection Act will make it a Federal misdemeanor to transport an underage child across state lines, in circumvention of state and local parental and notification laws, for the purpose of obtaining an abortion.

Last year in the 106' Congress, I introduced this legislation which passed the House with a vote of 270-159, almost 2/3 majority. In the 105f Congress, this legislation also passed with a vote of 276-150. Significant support for this legislation is not surprising because according to Zogby International, 66% of people surveyed believe that doctors should be "legally required to notify the parents of a girl under the legal age who requests an abortion."

In addition, a 1999 fact sheet created by the Planned Parenthood Federation of America entitled Teenagers, Abortion, and Government Intrusion Laws cites "few would deny that most teenagers, especially younger ones, would benefit from adult guidance when faced with an unwanted pregnancy. Few would deny that such guidance ideally should come from the teenagers' parents."

Parental consent or parental notification laws may vary from state to state, but they are all made with the same purpose in mind: to protect frightened and confused adolescent girls from harm.

I thank you, Mr. Chairman, for considering this vital piece of legislation, and I hope that this subcommittee will support HR 476 for the purpose of upholding safety laws designed by individual states, protecting parents' rights to be involved in decisions involving their minor children, and working to strengthen the bonds of America's families.

Ros-Lehtinen Speaks On Her Child Custody Protection Act Bill

Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen's bill, the Child Custody Protection Act (H.R. 476), will be discussed at the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution on Thursday, September 6th. The bill makes it a federal offense to transport a minor across state lines to circumvent that state's abortion parental involvement laws.

The hearing will take place on Thurday, September 6th at 10:00 am at 2237 Rayburn House Office Building.

At least 22 states have laws currently in effect that require notifications or consent by at least one parent or a judge before an abortion is performed on a minor. Unfortunately, many of these parental consent laws are circumvented by adults who transport minor children to obtain abortions in states with no parental notification laws.

"This legislation will close a loophole that unfortunately allows adults to violate state laws by obtaining an abortion for a teen without parental consent and the bill protects the rights of parents to counsel their daughters," said Ros-Lehtinen, who introduced similar legislation during the 105th and 106th Congresses.

The Child Custody Protection Act has passed the House twice. This historic legislation will put an end to the abortion clinics and family planning organizations that exploit young, vulnerable girls by luring them to recklessly disobey state laws with irresponsible advertisements.



LOAD-DATE: September 10, 2001