Minority members of the House Judiciary Committee deserve high praise for fighting to include some important pro-life issues in new legislation. Committee members Reps. James Sensenbrenner (R- WI) and Steve King (R-IA) made a courageous attempt to attach the Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act (CIANA) to a bill that prohibits the transportation of animals across state lines for the purpose of animal fights (e.g., cock fighting). CIANA would make it illegal to take a minor girl across state lines for an abortion to bypass the parental involvement laws in her home state.
During the mark- up Rep. Sensenbrenner said, "I recognize we are meeting here today to consider a bill to protect chickens, but isn't protecting our nation's young women. . . equally if not more important than our dinner entree?" The pro-family amendment was tabled on an 18-14 party line vote. Freshman Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) also offered an amendment to a separate bill in committee that would have prevented taxpayers' money from funding abortions. It was defeated on a 20-15 party line vote. (Family Research Council)
