House Passes Anti-Abortion Legislation Endangering Teen Health

For Immediate Release
Contact: Jenny Thalheimer, 202-628-8669 x 116

House Passes Anti-Abortion Legislation Endangering Teen Health

April 28, 2005

"By passing this deceptive legislation, the House took another step toward final passage of a law that will endanger a women's health and safety," said NOW President Kim Gandy. "It is not for anyone else but the woman and her doctor to decide how or when she should get an abortion."

In a 250 to 157 vote, the House passed a teen endangerment bill which restricts a young woman's ability to obtain an abortion outside of the home state by punishing any adult who accompanies her, even if the closest city is across state lines.

"This is an ill-advised and dangerous bill designed to prevent young women from seeking a legal medical procedure in an accessible and affordable location, particularly if her own state designed insurmountable barriers to her reproductive health care," Gandy said.

The law will subject young women, abortion providers and others who assist the women to a confusing maze of overlapping and conflicting state and federal laws, which will make it more difficult and more dangerous for young women to obtain abortions. Additionally, there is no exception for a medical emergency unless she has complied with her home state's parental involvement laws.

"Young women - especially those who are victims of family violence or incest - need to be able to involve an older sister, aunt, grandmother or minister in this decision, and they must be allowed to help," Gandy said. "For these women, involving a parent in their decision to obtain an abortion is out of the question. To apply this kind of burden will cause more young women to seek unsafe methods for terminating their pregnancies."

"This bill must be stopped. Anyone who is really concerned about protecting the health of our young women must contact their senators at once," Gandy said.