By Gudrun Schultz
WASHINGTON, D.C., September 28, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The US Senate will vote on a groundbreaking parental notification bill as early as Friday September 29, in a surprise move to quickly decide the fate of the measure currently sidelined by Democratic opposition.
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist filed a “cloture petition” on the Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act Wednesday September 27—if the bill receives 60 or more of the 100 Senate votes, it will move directly to President Bush, who has indicated he will sign it into law.
The bill would require all abortionists to ensure a minor girl’s parents were notified before performing an abortion, regardless of what state the girl was from. It would also make it illegal to transport a minor girl across state lines in order to obtain an abortion, if the girls’ parents have a right to be notified under their home state law.
The measure was approved by the Senate in July with 65 senators voting in favor, including 14 Democrats. The bill was immediately blocked by the Senate Democratic leadership, however, through procedural obstruction.
Recent polls have shown the public overwhelming supports parental notification laws, by more than 80 percent. In a survey conducted in 2005 by the polling company WomanTrend, 82 percent of those questioned said they disagreed that a person should be able to take a minor girl across state lines to obtain an abortion without her parents’ knowledge.
The US National Right to Life Committee issued an urgent plea to all US constituents who support the measure, asking that calls be made to senators to encourage them to vote in favour of the bill. NRLC warned that the current legal situation allows young girls to be pressured into out-of-state abortions by older boyfriends or abortion providers, saying many abortion clinics purchase advertisements in neighboring states with parental notification laws, “enticing girls to cross state laws to avoid parental involvement.”
“When the Senate gave initial approval to S. 403 in July, 65 senators voted in favor of it, so this vote is winnable!” NRLC stated. “ALL senators should be called and urged to support sending S. 403 to President Bush!”
Read NRLC statement:
https://www.nrlc.org/Federal/CCPA/UrgentCIANAAlert092706.html
See polls indicating public support for parental notification laws:
https://www.nrlc.org/Federal/CCPA/ParentalInvolvementPolls.html
See previous LifeSiteNews coverage:
Parental Notification Bill Passed: Democratic Caucus Moves to Kill Bill by Procedural Obstruction
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2006/jul/06072606.html
Senate Considers Bill Criminalizing Transportation of Minor Girls Across State Borders For Abortion
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2006/jul/06072404.html
70% of Americans Back Abortion Parental Notification Laws: Poll
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2005/nov/05112804.html