(Washington, D.C.)-On Wednesday, April 17, Third District Congressman Chip Pickering voted for the 'Child Custody Protection Act' (H.R. 476), legislation that makes it a federal offense to transport a minor across a state line for an abortion if this action circumvents a state law requiring parental involvement in that minor's abortion. Congressman Pickering is a co-sponsor of this pro-life legislation that is also supported by the National Right to Life Committee. The bill was approved by the House by a vote of 260-161.

Parental notification/consent laws are often circumvented by adults who transport minors to neighboring states that do not require parental notification or consent. Many abortion clinics in states without parental involvement laws actually encourage such interstate activity by using "No Parental Consent Required" as a prominent selling point in advertisements that run in neighboring states that enforce parental involvement laws.

Congressman Pickering stated, "I voted for the Child Custody Protection Act in Congress today because this pro-life legislation helps states that have parental consent and notification laws for minors. These laws need to be enforced. I am opposed to abortion and believe the parental consent and notification laws are a good way to reduce the number of abortions in our country."

States with parental consent or notification laws that are active: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Wyoming.