WASHINGTON  -  U.S. Representative Jo Ann Emerson (MO-08) today voted for the Child Custody Protection Act, which passed in the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 264-153.  The bill would require that a minor’s parent or legal guardian be notified of an abortion at least 24 hours before it is performed.

 

“Because abortion notification laws are different in states like Missouri from states like Illinois, it is important to enforce national standards so parents in Missouri know when their minor child is seeking an abortion.  We have to let the family approach this situation with shared information so no hasty or coerced decisions are made,” Emerson said.  “An abortion is a serious, life-and-death matter.  To leave a gaping loophole that allows someone to cross a state line and have a secret abortion is irresponsible from the standpoint of federal law.”

 

The Child Custody Protection Act makes it a federal crime to transport a minor across state lines to have an abortion with the intent of evading parental consent or parental notification laws in the minor’s home state.