Contact: Stacey Holliday, Concerned Women for America, 202-488-7000 ext. 126

WASHINGTON, Sept. 26 /Christian Newswire/ -- Concerned Women for America (CWA) applauds today’s second passage of the Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act (CIANA), H.R. 748, sponsored by Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Florida).  Although the House passed this bill last year, the Senate has failed to vote on its version of the same bill, the Child Custody Protection Act (CCPA), S. 403. Both bills impose criminal penalties on any adult who transports a minor girl across state borders in order to avoid parental notification laws for abortion in the girl’s home state.

“We applaud the House for passing CIANA, but the protection of young pregnant girls will not be ensured until the Senate passes CCPA,” said Lanier Swann, CWA’s Director of Government Relations.  “This legislation is essential to keep adult predators accountable for smuggling minors across state lines with the intent of bypassing state abortion laws.  Once this bill is signed into law, parents will be able to take comfort in knowing that their daughters are being protected and can consult them before making a decision that has lifelong consequences. 

“A parent understands their daughter, knows her medical history, desires what’s best for her and can counsel and console her through troubling circumstances,” said Wendy Wright, CWA’s President.  “Medical decisions regarding minors require the direct involvement of a parent; abortion, which can leave lasting scars, must not be excluded.  Open communication draws families closer together and can save a young woman from a lifetime of emotional and physical damage.

“Parental notification laws enable a daughter to have the benefit of her parents’ counsel. Parents can help her work through her options and seek solutions she may not know about, such as adoption.  Too often, when a minor is pregnant, it is the result of a manipulative or abusive relationship – an adult taking advantage of a minor girl who may then force her to have an abortion to cover up his crime.  It is imperative that parents are afforded the opportunity to intervene in situations like this,” said Wright.

Swann concluded, “The Senate is doing the American people a huge disservice by failing to grant final passage of this protection for minor girls in crisis.  We urge them to follow in the footsteps of the House by putting aside partisan antics and sending a strong bill to the President’s desk.”

Concerned Women for America is the nation’s largest public policy women’s organization.