[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 125 (Friday, September 29, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1928]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


               CHILD INTERSTATE ABORTION NOTIFICATION ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                            HON. TODD TIAHRT

                               of kansas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 26, 2006

  Mr. TIAHRT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the Child 
Interstate Abortion Notification Act (CIANA).
  As a cosponsor of the Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act 
(CIANA) and having voted for its passage in the House on April 27, 
2005, I remain committed to this important piece of legislation and 
hope to see it passed into law promptly. The Child Interstate 
Notification Act prohibits circumventing state parental involvement 
laws by transporting a minor across state lines to obtain an abortion 
and places additional responsibilities on the abortionist.
  Not surprisingly, parental involvement laws are overwhelmingly 
supported by a significant majority of the American people. Parents 
desire to know Parent's rights and state's rights are being violated. 
Children are secretly being transported across state lines without the 
consent of their parents for abortions. Abortion clinics in states 
where there is no parental involvement law advertise their services in 
states which have parental laws in place. ``No Parental Consent 
Required'' one advertisement read.
  Children should be protected. Transporting a minor across state lines 
in order to obtain an abortion without parental notification or consent 
is more than troublesome. Pregnancy isn't something to be taken lightly 
and teenagers should not be isolated in their decision making. Instead, 
their parents should be involved in their decision on whether to have 
an abortion. My home state of Kansas is one of the 22 states that 
require parental consent with 2 of those states requiring both parents 
to consent.
  Parental notification laws are critical to protect the life and 
health of minors. Parents deserve to be informed about their daughter's 
abortion decision as they are the ones who would be responsible for 
paying any medical bills due to complications from an abortion. Parents 
must give their consent in order for their minor to obtain certain 
medical procedures including ear piercing and to receive aspirin at 
school yet they can acquire an abortion--a major medical procedure that 
could be fatal or result in complications without the consent of a 
parent? That is a dangerous exception that should be eliminated in all 
states.
  The Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act is good legislation 
that will protect minors and inform parents. Today, I hope to see CIANA 
pass the House for the second time this Congress and be sent to the 
Senate without further ado. I ask my colleagues in the Senate to not 
hold up this bill and to pass the language as it is written.
  I will vote in favor of the Child Interstate Abortion Notification 
Act today and encourage my colleagues to join me. I also encourage my 
colleagues in the Senate to promptly pass this piece of legislation so 
minors are better protected and parents are informed.

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