Senator John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has joined Senator Ashley Moody (R-Fla.) and seven other senators in introducing the Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act. The proposed legislation aims to strengthen parental rights and protect minors in cases where they travel across state lines to obtain an abortion.
“Parents should not be kept in the dark if their kids cross state lines to receive an abortion. I’m proud to help introduce the Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act, which would take important steps to protect vulnerable minors and support parents,” said Kennedy.
Moody also emphasized the importance of parental involvement: “As a mother, I cannot imagine my child being transported across state lines for a medical procedure without my knowledge. Parents should never be kept out of the loop when it comes to major, life-altering decisions affecting their children. I’m introducing the Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act to strengthen protections for parents and families by ensuring compliance with state parental notification and consent laws.”
Currently, there are concerns that some parents may not be informed when their children are taken to states where parental notification or consent is not required for abortions. The new bill would make it a crime to knowingly transport a minor across state lines for an abortion without meeting the parental rights requirements of the minor’s home state. It would also prohibit perpetrators of incest from transporting victims across state borders for this purpose.
The legislation is cosponsored by Senators Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), and Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.).
Cassidy stated, “We cannot allow sex traffickers and child abusers to circumvent states’ parental notification laws by crossing state lines to conceal an abortion from a child’s parents. This legislation puts in place needed safeguards to ensure state sovereignty is protected and those who seek to harm children are held accountable.”
Daines added, “Far too often, children are trafficked across state lines to get an abortion- without parental consent. This is wrong and threatens both the safety of our children and the rights of their parents. I’m proud to introduce the Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act with Senator Moody to protect vulnerable minors and uphold the importance of parental rights.”
Fischer commented, “No one should be secretly trafficking minors across state lines to obtain an abortion without parental consent. I’m pleased to join Senator Moody in introducing this commonsense legislation in the Senate to keep children safe and hold adults who seek to exploit them accountable.”
In the House of Representatives, Rep. Dave Taylor (R-Ohio) introduced a companion bill. Taylor said, “No one should be sneaking children across state lines to receive secret abortions behind the backs of that child’s parents. This bill will hold all parties accountable and ensure children are not taken advantage of. As states like California and Illinois promote abortions for all and keep parents in the dark about their child’s health, the Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act will put parents back in the equation and protect the lives of both the child and the unborn.”
The bill has received support from organizations including March for Life Action, Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, National Right to Life, Students for Life Action, National Prolife Religious Council, and Americans United for Life.
Exceptions are provided under this legislation for life-endangering situations; it also ensures that neither parents nor minors can be prosecuted or sued under its provisions.
Kennedy previously joined then-Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) in introducing similar legislation in 2023.
Senator Kennedy represents Louisiana in the U.S. Senate with offices throughout Alexandria, Baton Rouge, Lake Charles, Monroe, New Orleans, Shreveport, as well as Washington D.C., supporting constituents on federal matters (official website). He leads efforts on committees such as Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs while participating on Appropriations, Budget and Energy committees (official website). His work covers issues related to veterans’ affairs, small businesses, farmers’ needs and national security (official website).
