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GUEST: Donna Crane, Deputy Director of Government Relations at NARAL Pro-Choice America, Julie Sternberg, Senior Staff attorney at the ACLU Reproductive Freedom Project

On Tuesday this week, the U.S. Senate voted to pass the so-called “Child Custody Protection Act,” or S. 403. The bill would make it a federal crime for any person other than a parent or legal guardian to accompany a minor across state lines to have an abortion. It would also make it illegal for anyone, including a grandparent, aunt, or other trusted adult, to transport a pregnant teen out of a state to avoid the home state’s parental notification and/or consent law. The bill was passed 65-to-34, with 14 Democrats voting for the measure. There are currently 22 states that only allow minors to terminate pregnancies with parental consent; another 12 demand that the minors notify their parents. In April 2005, the House of Representatives passed the Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act, although significant differences exist between the House and Senate versions. President Bush has already promised to sign the bill if the differences can be worked out.

For more information, visit www.prochoiceamerica.org, or www.aclu.org.