Parents' Right To Know Act of 2003
(H.R. 2444)     7/18/2003

The Parents' Right to Know Act empowers parents to exercise their responsibility to give their children advice and guidance.

THE BILL

Requires clinics that receive Title X funds to notify parents three days before giving prescription contraceptives to minor children.

TITLE X BACKGROUND

• In FY 2002, Title X received more than $265 million in federal funds.
• In 2001-2002, more than 4,500 clinics received Title X funds.
• 4.3 million women receive services from Title X clinics; one-third of these clients (more than 1.4 million) are teens.
• By federal regulation, children of any age are entitled to receive contraceptives without the knowledge or consent of their parents.

WHAT WOULD H.R. 2444 ACCOMPLISH?

H.R. 2444 would require that Title X clinics notify parents of minor children three days before giving the minors prescription contraceptives. Ending the current policy of mandated secrecy would protect parental rights and the role of the family. Parents have a right to know what the government is doing to their children.

The Parents' Right to Know Act empowers parents to exercise their responsibility to give their children advice and guidance. Moreover, the bill helps protect teenagers from the physical and emotional risks associated with sexual activity. Parents are clearly the persons most qualified to help young people make crucial decisions. H.R. 2444 would prevent the government from usurping that position of responsibility.

This bill does not prevent minors from receiving contraceptives; it does ensure minors' safety, prevent the government from using federal taxes to give medical treatment to children behind parents' backs, and thus protect against the following inevitable ramifications of the current policy:

• It is dangerous to give government more control over a child's medical treatment than her parents have.
• "Confidentiality" - secrecy -undermines parental authority.
• Current policy endangers the health of teens:
• The minor may have health complications that increase the danger of taking a contraceptive. The current policy prevents parents from protecting children from possible harm due to lack of notification.
• A large proportion of sexually active minor girls are victims of incest or statutory rape. The current policy of secrecy protects the criminals that prey upon these young victims.
• Easy access encourages sexual activity without responsibility in teens.

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