[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 89 (Tuesday, June 21, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3974-S3975]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. RUBIO (for himself, Mr. Hatch, Ms. Ayotte, Mr. Blunt, Mr. 
        Burr, Mr. Chambliss, Mr. Coats, Mr. Coburn, Mr. Cornyn, Mr. 
        DeMint, Mr. Enzi, Mr. Graham, Mr. Grassley, Mrs. Hutchison, Mr. 
        Johanns, Mr. Kyl, Mr. Lee, Mr. McCain, Mr. Moran, Mr. Risch, 
        Mr. Sessions, Mr. Thune, Mr. Wicker, Mr. Vitter, and Mr. Paul):
  S. 1241. A bill to amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit 
taking

[[Page S3975]]

minors across State lines in circumvention of laws requiring the 
involvement of parents in abortion decisions; to the Committee on the 
Judiciary.
  Mr. RUBIO. Mr. President, it is an honor to stand alongside Senator 
Hatch today as we introduce the Child Interstate Abortion Notification 
Act. This bill, which would help States enforce laws requiring that 
parents be notified before their child has an abortion, is supported by 
many pro-life groups and organizations. But perhaps most importantly, 
it is supported by a broad majority of parents, who are in a much 
better position to help children with tough decisions than virtually 
anyone else.
  Many States require that a parent be notified before a minor has an 
abortion, while even more require the consent of a parent before a 
physician can legally perform an abortion. Unfortunately, these laws 
are undermined and circumvented by those simply willing to travel to a 
State without these restrictions.
  This important legislation would put an end to this practice 
permanently by simply enabling States to enforce their existing laws, 
which are designed to protect our children and defend parents' rights. 
While this legislation serves that goal, it also promotes a culture of 
life in our nation that is critical to ensuring we continue to cherish 
and defend the self-evident, fundamental right to life, especially as 
it applies to the unborn.
  Specifically, this bill has two parts: First, it prohibits the act of 
knowingly taking a minor across State lines with the intent of 
obtaining an abortion if this action evades the parental involvement 
law in her home State. Second, it would require abortion providers to 
notify a parent of an out-of-State minor before performing an abortion.
  Sadly, many are willing to circumvent State law and shuttle young 
girls across State lines in order to avoid parental notification laws. 
With the help of my Senate colleagues, we will put a stop to this and 
ensure that parents are aware of profound medical operations involving 
their children. With that thought in mind, I ask you to support this 
legislation to help keep parents informed.
  Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, today I am proud to stand with my friend 
from Florida, Senator Rubio, as he introduces an important piece of 
legislation, the Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act. This bill, 
which today is being introduced in the House by Representative Ileana 
Ros-Lehtinen of Florida, is based on the belief that children should 
not make profound life-changing decisions by themselves and that 
parents are generally in the best and most responsible position to help 
them.
  One of the many disturbing ironies in the abortion debate is that 
parental consent is needed for such things as tattoos or school 
fieldtrips but not always for abortions that will end one life and 
change another forever. Abortion advocates say that abortion should be 
treated as any other surgical procedure, but many of them oppose 
requiring the same parental consent for abortion that is required for 
any other procedure.
  What is worse, there are individuals and organizations out there who 
appear to care more about money an about kids. They are willing to help 
young girls get abortions by any means necessary, including taking them 
to other States without the knowledge or consent of their parents. Mind 
you, those same parents will be responsible for the aftermath, for the 
physical, emotional, and spiritual consequences of the abortion. If 
parents are to be responsible at the end, they have the right to be 
there at the beginning.
  If it were possible, just for a moment, to take the abortion politics 
out of the picture, every parent knows that kids have to develop over 
time the judgment and maturity to make decisions. No one is more 
committed to them, no one has more love for them, no one has more 
responsibility for them than their parents.
  This bill has two parts. First, it prohibits taking a minor across 
State lines for an abortion if doing so evades the parental involvement 
law in her home State. In the 109th Congress, this portion of our bill 
passed the Senate with 65 bipartisan votes. More than 80 percent of our 
fellow Americans support it. Second, this bill requires abortionists to 
notify parents of an out-of-State minor before performing an abortion. 
Fifty-seven Senators voted for cloture on this combined bill in 2006.
  I urge my colleagues to read the bill. It does not apply when an 
abortion is necessary to save a girl's life or if the girl is a victim 
of abuse or neglect. Again, please read the bill. It is carefully 
drafted with the appropriate exceptions and safeguards in order to 
focus on what unites the vast majority of Americans, that parents 
should be involved before their child has an abortion. The majority of 
States have laws requiring parental involvement and, with its 
interstate component, this bill is a legitimate and constitutional way 
for Congress to help protect children and support parents.
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