Update on Child Custody Protection Act

There is movement on an important issue getting the attention of Congress called the Child Custody Protection Act (CCPA).  Senator John Ensign (R-NV) is reintroducing the measure in this session of Congress, which would make it a federal offense to transport a minor across state lines for an abortion to evade parental consent or notification laws in the girl's home state.

The measure has been considered before.  In fact, the Child Custody Protection Act passed with nearly a two-thirds majority in the House in the 105th, 106th, 107th Congresses but failed to receive consideration in the Senate. With the new make-up of the Senate in the 109th, Drew Ryun, our Director of Governmental Affairs, reports that this measure has a good chance for passage this time.  In fact, the bill is in its early stages but already there are already rumblings from the opposition.  Consider what the ACLU told the Associated Press this week:  "We're proceeding as if it's going to pass," said Lorraine Kenny of the American Civil Liberties Union's Reproductive Freedom Project.

This is an important measure.  The sponsor of the bill put the issue into clear perspective.  Senator Ensign said: "If my nine year old daughter's school is required to call me if they want to give her an aspirin, parents should be notified if their daughter wants an abortion."

Like so many other good pieces of conservative, common sense legislation, CCPA is an important priority for the GOP leadership in the Senate.  Along with the Fetal Pain Bill, the Hyde/Weldon Conscience Protection Amendment and the RU-486 Suspension and Review Act, there is a definite pro-life legislative push underway in the 109th Congress.  We will keep you posted.