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Press Releases

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR) introduced the Parental Notification and Intervention Act, legislation that would arm parents in every state with the right to stop teen abortions.  

This legislation requires that parents be notified at least four days in advance of any abortion to be performed on their minor daughter and gives them power to stop an abortion from being performed. 

“We need to work to promote an appreciation for the family and for all human life. As a father I understand the importance of being involved in the lives of teenagers. Parents need to do what is best for their children and they need to be aware of decisions they make to protect them from a potential lifetime of guilt for having aborted an unborn child,” Boozman said. 

Polls show nearly 80% of Americans agree parents should have the legal right to stop an abortion from being performed on their minor daughter. Many states such as Arkansas have enacted laws requiring parental notification. However without a federal law parents in those states are not required to be notified when their daughters go out-of-state for an abortion. Also, judges exploit loopholes in state laws by granting “judicial bypass” so often times the law is not enforced.  

The Parental Notification and Intervention Act punishes abortionists who do not follow rules set forth in this bill including fines of up to $1 million, 10 years in prison or both. 

Parental notification laws have proven effective at the state level. Texas’ teen abortion rate has dropped 25% since passage of its parental notification law in 2000 and Virginia and South Dakota have had similar results since parental notification laws were passed more than ten years ago. 

The legislation is cosponsored by Senators Dan Coats (R-IN), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Mike Johanns (R-NE), Jim Risch (R-ID) and John Thune (R-SD).