This is a press release from the National Right to Life Committee (NRLC) in Washington, issued on Wednesday, April 17, 2002.

For further information, contact Laura Echevarria, NRLC Media Relations director, at (202) 626-8825, or see www.nrlc.org/Federal/CCPA/Index.html.

Washington (April 17) -- The U.S. House of Representatives today approved the Child Custody Protection Act (H.R. 476), by a lopsided margin of 260-161. This bill would make it a federal crime to transport a minor across a state line in circumvention of a state law requiring parental or judicial involvement in the minor's abortion decision. More than 24 states have laws that would be covered by the bill.

NRLC Legislative Director Douglas Johnson commented, "By passing the Child Custody Protection Act Congress would take a clear stand against the bizarre notion that the U.S. Constitution confers a 'right' upon strangers to take one's minor daughter across state lines for a secret abortion, even when a state law specifically requires the involvement of a parent or judge in the daughter's abortion decision."

The Child Custody Protection Act does not supercede, override, or in any way interfere with existing state laws regarding minors' abortions. Nor does the bill impose any parental notice or consent requirement on the state. The bill deals only with interstate transportation of minors to circumvent existing state laws. Nevertheless, opponents of the bill, including the abortion industry, have urged that "exceptions" be added to allow interstate transportation for abortions to be conducted by siblings, boyfriends, or other persons, without the authorizations required by state law.

Polls consistently show the majority of Americans support legislation similar to the Child Custody Protection Act. According to a 1998 poll conducted by Baselice & Associates, 85% of Americans did not think that a person should be able to take a minor across state lines to obtain an abortion without her parents' knowledge.

Laura Echevarria, NRLC Director of Media Relations, emphasized, "NRLC believes that Congress should not override state laws by empowering siblings, boyfriends or other persons who do not hold parental authority under the pertinent state laws."

The National Right to Life Committee is the nation's largest pro-life group with affiliates in all 50 states and over 3,000 chapters nationwide. National Right to Life works through legislation and education to protect those lives threatened by abortion, infanticide and euthanasia.

VSHL is the Virginia affiliate of the National Right to Life Committee.