Senator Marco Rubio is introducing a a major pro-life bill, the Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act, today that would stop secret abortions on teenagers.
The bill would require an abortion practitioner to notify a parent before performing an abortion on a minor who resides in a different state. It would also make it a crime for a non-parent to transport a minor across state lines to evade a parental notification law.
National Right to Life originally helped develop the bill in 2005 and the House of Representatives approved it 2005 and again in 2006, but died in the Senate when most Democratic senators supported a filibuster.
In a February 12 letter urging senators to co-sponsor the new bill, NRLC said, “Parental notification or parental consent laws, consistent with existing Supreme Court case law, are in effect in more than half the states. However, these laws are often circumvented — activity that is actively encouraged by abortion clinics’ out-of-state advertising in non-notification states, highlighting the avoidance of parental notification as a selling point. Only Congress has the authority to deal with this interstate activity, and the CIANA would do so.”
In the House of Representatives, the CIANA will be re-introduced by Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, also a Florida Republican. During the 2011-2012 Congress, her bill gathered 172 cosponsors in the House.
National Right to Life Legislative Director Douglas Johnson commented, “The CIANA would do much to protect the rights of parents and the welfare of their minor daughters, and we commend Senator Rubio and Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen for pursuing this vital legislation.”
The bill also enjoys the support of the Susan B. Anthony List, a pro-life women’s group.
“The Susan B. Anthony List applauds Senator Rubio and Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen for their leadership in protecting young girls from the violence of abortion and promoting parental involvement,” said SBA List President Marjorie Dannenfelser. “Today, schools most notify and obtain consent from parents before children receive aspirin. It is ludicrous that parents would be prevented from involvement in decision making about an invasive and life-changing surgery like abortion.”
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Dannenfelser told LifeNews: “Senator Rubio and Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen are consistent pro-life advocates. They understand that the pro-life movement seeks to protect and serve both mother and child. CIANA does precisely that by preserving the link between parents and children and protecting vulnerable young girls from predators who seek to cover up their crimes by procuring abortions for their victims. We call on both chambers to protect children and support this legislation.”
During his rebuttal to the State of the Union address, Senator Rubio reminded Americans that our nation “is exceptional because we believe that every life, at every stage, is precious.” Yesterday, Rubio said being pro-life “is not just a political issue for me.”
