The Senate passed major legislation on Tuesday that would make it a crime to take a pregnant girl across state lines to get an abortion without her parent's permission. The Senate's version differed significantly from the version passed in the House and the two bills must be reconciled before the legislation can be sent to President Bush for signature.
The final vote in the Senate was 65-34 in favor of the bill which has would institute penalties of one year in jail and fines for trying to evade the parental notification laws for abortions that now exist in some states for minors.
Neither the pregnant girl nor her parents would not be subject to criminal penalties under the new bill and the proposal also contains exceptions for situations when the pregnant girl's life is endangered.
Supporters of the bill spoke of it as one protecting the rights of parents. 'No parent wants anyone to take their children across state lines or even across the street without their permission,' said Senate Majority Whip Mitch McConnell (R-Kent.). 'This is a fundamental right, and the Congress is right to uphold it in law.'
Democrats tried to add an amendment that would have made an exception for teens with abusive parents but that was rejected by the Republican majority.
There are major differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill. The House version would require doctors to contact the parents of a minor seeking an abortion across state lines and give them at least 24 hours notice before performing an abortion.
At this time, only six states and Washington DC do not have parental notification laws with regard to abortions performed on minors. The six states are Washington, Oregon, New York, Vermont, Rhode Island and Connecticut.
President Bush says he favors the new law which will almost certainly face a constitutional challenge in courts from pro-choice activists. It remains to be seen what the final version of the bill will look like after the House and Senate negotiate.
