House bill would bar taking minors across state lines for abortions News
House bill would bar taking minors across state lines for abortions

[JURIST] The US House of Representatives passed a bill late Wednesday that would make it illegal to take minors across the state lines for abortions. The option is seen as a way of getting around parental consent laws legislated in some states. Although HR 748, the Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act [PDF text] passed 270-157 [House roll call] with 54 Democrats supporting it, many Democrats see the measure as another Republican restriction on abortion rights. Two similar bills have been passed by the House since 1998, but the present legislation is thought to have a better chance of succeeding in the Senate as it is on the Senate GOP leadership's "top 10" list of priorities and Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist has promised to bring it to a vote. AP has more.