House OKs Limits on Abortions for Minors

WASHINGTON — The House passed legislation Wednesday that would make it illegal to dodge parental-consent laws by taking minors across state lines for abortions.

On a 270-157 vote, the House sent the bill to the Senate, where the policy has new momentum as an item on the GOP’s top 10 list of legislative priorities.

The bill would impose fines, jail time or both on adults and doctors involved in most cases where minors were taken out of state to get abortions.

In a statement, President Bush praised the House for passing the measure.

“The parents of pregnant minors can provide counsel, guidance and support to their children and should be involved in these decisions,” Bush said.

“I urge the Senate to pass this important legislation and help continue to build a culture of life in America.”

This was the third time since 1998 that the House had approved such a measure sponsored by Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.).

The Senate has never taken it up and no vote has been set, but Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) expects to bring up a similar measure this summer, spokeswoman Amy Call said.

In another sign of the measure’s new support, Democratic Rep. William Lacy Clay of Missouri, who staunchly favors abortion rights and voted against the measure in the past, voted for it Wednesday.

Clay said he switched in response to an outpouring of support for the bill from constituents in his St. Louis district.

Voting for it were 216 Republicans and 54 Democrats.

Voting against it were 145 Democrats, 11 Republicans and one Independent.

If passed by the Senate and signed by the president, the policy would represent the fifth measure since Bush took office in 2001 aimed at reducing the number of abortions.