John Thune: “by passing the Child Custody Protection Act today, Congress will take a clear stand against the bizarre notion that…”

“by passing the Child Custody Protection Act today, Congress will take a clear stand against the bizarre notion that somehow the United States 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. It is amazing to me that a child cannot get aspirin from a school nurse without parental consent but can cross State lines to get an abortion without the consent of their parents. There are school counselors who set up out-of-state abortions for minor students to hide this life-changing decision from the girls' parents. There are even sexual predators who would take their victims across State lines to destroy evidence through an abortion in a State without parental notice laws. Mr. Speaker, as the father of two young daughters, I cannot understand how anyone can defend the right of an adult to take a child across State lines to have an abortion without the parents knowing. To me when that happens, both of the victims are children. When governments undermine families, it tears at the very fabric of our culture and supports a culture of death rather than a culture of life. This bill closes a loophole that skirts State laws requiring parental notification.”