Dangerous Family Restriction Act
For Immediate Release: Jan. 30, 2014
Unconstitutional Law Is Federal Intrusion In Family Decision Making, Risks Teens' Health and Safety.
WASHINGTON, DC — Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) denounced the U.S. Senate's passage today of the so-called Child Custody Protection Act (CCPA), which jeopardizes the health and safety of teens across the nation. CCPA would prevent family members like grandparents, aunts and siblings from helping a teenager seek abortion services in another state unless the teen has met the requirements for parental involvement in her state of residence.
"The Senate showed a frightening lack of compassion for American teens and a disturbing willingness to play politics with their health and safety today," said PPFA Vice President of Public Policy Stephenie Foster. "We all want our daughters to come to us, but what is most important is that they are safe. Forbidding young people from turning to trusted family members when they are in crisis does not prevent unintended pregnancy and the need for abortion. Parents need support to keep their kids healthy and safe — not laws that criminalize family members for helping teens get access to good medical care."
"Planned Parenthood believes parents should be the primary source of information about health and sexuality for their children, and we strongly encourage families to communicate openly about sensitive matters like reproductive health," added Foster. "We believe that when a family is facing a difficult situation, the last thing that family needs is for elected officials to interfere in their ability to make health care decisions."
In addition to being ill-advised, CCPA is unconstitutional. It fails to make an exception for emergencies that threaten severe damage to a minor's health, and it burdens the constitutional right to travel to seek medical care to end a pregnancy. CCPA also ignores the fact that, because 87 percent of counties in the United States have no abortion provider, for many women the nearest provider is in another state.