Concerned Women for America’s (CWA’s) trained citizen lobbyists, participating in CWA’s program known as Project 535, descended on Capitol Hill recently to meet with more than 40 Senate offices to gain support for the Child Custody Protection Act of 2005 (CCPA) (S. 8).

Despite travel difficulties caused by mass flooding in the Washington-Metro area, sunny skies welcomed the 25 women from around the country on Wednesday, June 28.  Sen. John Ensign (R-Nevada), the bill’s sponsor, met with them and spoke openly about his desire to “change the hearts and minds” of Americans who support abortion.

The Project 535 members met with Capitol Hill staffers all day to encourage support and co-sponsorship of the bill and to urge  Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist to keep his promise to schedule a vote for the bill this month.  Members pointed out that minors cannot take an aspirin, go on a field trip, or participate in sports without their parent’s permission, but a stranger can take them, without their parent’s consent, across state lines to receive an abortion.

With 34 states enacting parental-consent legislation, and as many as 80 percent of Americans favoring parental consent, CWA’s Project 535 lobbyists emphasized that the CCPA is not  divisive.  It simply seeks to preserve parent’s rights, respect federalism and protect the health of minors.  They explained that the bill includes a judicial authorization when parents cannot be contacted for various reasons.  

 The battle for the Child Custody Protection Act first began in 1998, and has been an uphill battle in the Senate.  Jan LaRue, Chief Counsel for Concerned Women for America, recently wrote, “Although the U.S. House of Representatives has passed the CCPA four times, the U.S. Senate, and the Senate Judiciary Committee (SJC) in particular, have done nothing.”

The Project 535 lobbyists received excellent and positive feedback from Senate staffers.  With 38 co-sponsors and many more supporting the bill, they were encouraged and confident that with enough support and pressure from senators, the CCPA will receive a vote.