"As mothers, we strongly believe it's a parent's right to be made aware of their daughters’ health," Illinois state Sen. Sue Rezin said. | Facebook
"As mothers, we strongly believe it's a parent's right to be made aware of their daughters’ health," Illinois state Sen. Sue Rezin said. | Facebook
Republican state Sen. Sue Rezin argues she’s speaking for parents all across the state in rejecting legislation aimed at repealing the Parental Notice of Abortion Act (PNA) of 1995.
“Today I'm joined by my colleagues, and not just any colleagues, those of us standing here today are mothers and fathers, mothers of daughters, and once young girls ourselves,” Rezin said at an Oct. 19 press conference on the PNA and the legislation that would repeal it, ABC7 reported. “We're standing up for the rights of parents all across the state of Illinois so that we can provide the support that our daughters need. There's been strong indication that some Illinois legislators plan to use the veto session to advance legislation that would repeal the Parental Notice of Abortion Act.”
Rezin, who also serves as Senate Republican deputy leader, said she finds it senseless that anyone would take issue with policy that requires that parents of minors be notified before their daughter undergoes an abortion procedure.
“To be clear, the act doesn't require consent, just notification,” she added. “So, what we're talking about is repealing the law that requires parents to be notified when their young 13- or 14-year-old daughter decides to have a medical procedure. This issue goes beyond the typical pro-life vs. pro-choice debate. We're way past just discussing our views on abortion. We are literally now discussing if a parent has a right to know about their child's pregnancy and abortion.”
Rezin argues not only would the proposed measure represent an assault on the rights of parents, she adds that arguments about it being necessary in the wake of what's happening in Texas are just as off centered, according to ABC7.
“They know that what is happening in Texas has no effect on what's happening in our state,” she said of the recently enacted law that bans most abortions there.
The Texas law directly bans most abortions after a cardiac activity is detected, which typically comes at about six weeks following conception.
"I expect Texas-style laws will be coming to states near us. We're already surrounded by states that have very strict abortion-access laws. It will be this race to the bottom: Who can be the toughest on abortion until the Supreme Court weighs in?" Rep. Anna Moeller, the repeal's House sponsor, said to the Associated Press.
Rezin doesn't see it that way.
“The reality is that Illinois has the most progressive abortion laws on record in the nation,” she said. “Now whether you agree with that or not that's not changing because of what happens in a different state or federally. If Roe v Wade would be overturned tomorrow, abortion would still be legal in our state. Everyone who chooses to have an abortion would still be able to access it because of legislation that was passed just a few years ago. This is an issue about parental rights, whether we believe it is okay to keep parents in the dark about serious health care decisions made by a minor. As mothers, we strongly believe it's a parent's right to be made aware of their daughters’ health.”
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