The U.S. House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution yesterday approved the Child Custody Protection Act (CCPA), which will now be considered by the full Committee. CCPA is an anti-choice piece of legislation that would make it a crime for an adult, who is not a parent, to assist a minor in crossing state lines to obtain an abortion. Critics of CCPA, including Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), ranking member of the House Subcommittee, say that the legislation violates the constitutional principle of federalism. At issue is the “transference” of laws from one state to another, or “whether people of one state should be able to set the policies … of other states,” according to Nadler.
CCPA may also place an undue burden on a young woman seeking an abortion and undermine young women who cannot involve their parents in their decision-making for a myriad of reasons. “This bill is an attempt to legislate family dynamics – an impossible task,” says Nicole Noorigian, CRLP Fellowship Attorney. “You can’t create a functional family for a young woman by passing a law.” The House previously passed CCPA in the last two congressional sessions.
