[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 1 (Thursday, January 4, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Page S167]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. INHOFE:
  S. 174. 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, I introduce legislation requiring parental 
consent for intrusive physical exams administered under the Head Start 
program.
  Young children attending Head Start programs should not be subjected 
to these intrusive physical 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. To 
clarify the Code, my bill will not allow any non-emergency intrusive 
exam by a Head Start agency without parental consent. This would not 
include exams such as hearing, vision or scoliosis screenings.
  This issue was brought to my attention by some of my constituents 
from Tulsa, OK, who felt their rights were violated when their children 
were subjected to genital exams and blood tests without their consent. 
I am pleased to see that the Rutherford Institute has taken an interest 
in this crucial issue and are representing my constituents.
  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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