The U.S. Senate this week approved legislation making it a federal crime for anyone besides a parent to take an underage girl to another state to end a pregnancy.
The vote gives us pause, seeking to fix a problem that no one knew we had.
Lawmakers on both sides of the issue acknowledged that it would apply to only a small number of cases. We can only imagine that those few girls in such a circumstance are likely traumatized and desperate. Yet, the legislation does nothing to help them deal with their situations.
Indeed, the bill is nothing more than an election-year gambit by social conservatives who have run out of ways to encroach on abortion rights. Some reports suggested that the bill was being pushed by Republicans to give some GOP lawmakers who voted in favor of expanding federal funding for embryonic stem-cell research last week the opportunity to appease anti-abortion voters ahead of the elections. We hope nothing so cynical was at work here.
Colorado is among some 26 states with laws requiring that parents of a minor be notified before an abortion is performed. Under the law passed by the Senate this week, people convicted of helping pregnant girls avoid parental consent laws by helping them cross state lines to have an abortion are subject to fines and up to a year in jail. Lawmakers approved an amendment requiring that fathers who commit incest and later transport their daughters to other states for abortions would be subject to the same penalties. But they rejected other important amendments designed to protect grandparents or clergy trying to help victims of abusive parents or incest.
The House passed a version of the bill last year, requiring anyone who performs an abortion on a minor from a different state to notify the parents at least 24 hours ahead of time. President Bush has indicated he’ll sign a bill if the House and Senate can reach agreement in conference committee.
Congress’ focus would be better placed on sex education, contraception and counseling so girls don’t have unwanted pregnancies in the first place. Emergency contraception, or the morning-after pill, also should be available. Colorado has tried but failed to get such a measure enacted into law.
We don’t believe the measure passed by the Senate is in the best interests of pregnant teens. As Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., said, “We’ve brought up a bill that does absolutely nothing to protect girls.”
