Mike Levin: “I am opposed to S. 1645, the so-called Child Custody Protection Act. This legislation would prohibit and set penalties…”

“I am opposed to S. 1645, the so-called Child Custody Protection Act. This legislation would prohibit and set penalties for transporting an individual under the age of 18 across a state line to obtain an abortion even though the abortion is legal in the state that individual is taken to. It would subject close relatives such as grandmothers, aunts, and siblings to criminal prosecution for an action totally legal where taken. In fact, an amendment that would have excluded grandmothers and other close adult relatives from federal prosecution was defeated in Committee by proponents of this bill. Invoking cloture at this time would preclude this amendment on the Senate floor. When faced with difficult choices regarding abortion and reproductive health, young women should be encouraged to seek counsel from their parents or other trusted adults. In many cases, even in states without mandatory parental consent laws, young women involve one or both parents. However, if a young woman feels that she cannot involve her parents for whatever reason, such as her fear it would put her in danger of abuse or if the pregnancy is the result of incest, she should not be discouraged from seeking the counsel of a trusted adult. I support adult involvement in this very difficult decision, but we must recognize that in some cases it is not always possible for the adult to be a parent.”