[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 137 (Wednesday, October 1, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S12293]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. INHOFE:
  S. 1699. A bill to amend the Head Start Act to require parental 
consent for nonemergency intrusive physical examinations; to the 
Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions.
  Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, today I am introducing legislation to 
require parental consent for intrusive physical exams, genital exams, 
administered under the Head Start program.
  Young children attending Head Start programs should not be subjected 
to these invasive exams without the prior knowledge or consent of their 
parents. While the Department of Health and Human Services has 
administered general exam guidelines to agencies, the U.S. Code is not 
clear about prohibiting them without parental consent. My bill will 
clarify the Code by not allowing any non-emergency invasive genital 
exam by a Head Start agency without parental consent.
  As a father and grandfather, I believe it is vital for parents to be 
informed about what is happening to their children in the classroom. I 
hope that my colleagues will join me in support of this important bill.
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