[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 96 (Friday, July 17, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1333]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                          PERSONAL EXPLANATION

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. JOHN EDWARD PORTER

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 16, 1998

  Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, during the vote on H.R. 3682, the Child 
Custody Protection Act, on July 15, 1998, I was not able to vote on 
final passage. I want to clarify that I oppose H.R. 3682, and that I 
would have voted ``nay'' had I been present.
  Mr. Speaker, the rule on this bill should have permitted amendments 
to H.R. 3682 and for that reason I opposed the rule and the previous 
question on the rule. I voted for the motion to recommit because the 
bill in its present form is too extreme. The current legislation could 
punish anyone, including a grandparent or mother in a State with a two 
parent notice requirement, who accompanies a young family member across 
State lines for an abortion. If amended to address this type of problem 
along the lines recommended by the President, this bill could earn my 
support and be swiftly enacted into law.

                          ____________________