“School nurses need parental consent before dispensing aspirin to our children,” stated Representative Bryant. “So why should it be legal for someone to perform an abortion without a parent’s consent, as required by the law in Tennessee? Parents know their children’s medical and psychological history, and in most cases are the only ones who can provide authorization for post-abortion procedures. By circumventing the law, and keeping parents out of the loop, two lives hang in the balance: that of the unborn baby, and of the teenager, who may or may not receive the care she requires.”

The Child Custody Protection Act, H.R. 476, makes it a Federal offense to knowingly transport a minor across a State line, with the intent that she obtain an abortion, in circumvention of a State's parental consent or parental notification law. Violation of this act carries a fine of up to $100,000 and incarceration of up to one year.  The bill does not supercede, override, or in any way alter existing State parental involvement laws. Nor does the Act impose any parental notice or consent requirement on any State. 

H.R. 476 passed the House on April 17, 2002 by a vote of 260-161.

Congressman Bryant is a former federal prosecutor and is a member of the Judiciary Committee, as well as the Energy and Commerce Committee.

To hear an actuality from Representative Bryant, please call (202) 226-4760 and enter message number 0050145. The actuality may also be found on the Internet at: http://www.GOP.gov/multimedia/audio/00501/45/0050145-lo.ram.