Families are our state’s most precious resource and the fundamental building blocks of our communities, state, and nation. The Missouri House recently considered several pieces of legislation to strengthen families and protect the health of all their members, from parents to unborn children.
To provide women in our state with adequate information on their risk for breast cancer, I sponsored House Bill 1510, which was voted out of the House by an overwhelming vote of 146 to 6. In the United States, one woman is diagnosed with breast cancer every three minutes, and a woman dies from this disease every thirteen minutes. Unfortunately, mammograms, which are meant to detect breast cancer, may not be a sufficient screening tool for the 40% of women in the US with dense breast tissue.
HB 1510 requires mammography facilities to provide patients with a notice stating that if they have dense breast tissue and other risk factors for breast cancer, they may benefit from supplemental screenings. The bill does not mandate additional tests but ensures that women have the information they need to make the best possible decisions about their health.
Women should not be pressured into making ill-informed or hasty decisions about any procedure, especially not one as life-altering as an abortion. Representatives Kevin Elmer (R-Nixa) and Keith Frederick (R-Rolla) sponsored HBs 1307 & 1313 to extend the waiting period for an abortion from 24 hours to 72 hours. This bill is designed to give women adequate time to consider the consequences of an abortion and the other options available to them and their child. HBs 1307 & 1313 needs one more favorable vote in the House before moving to the Senate for consideration.
Currently, before a minor can undergo an abortion, both the girl and one of her parents or guardians must provide their written consent. Representative Rocky Miller’s (R-Tuscumbia) HB 1192 would require the consenting adult to inform any other custodial parents or guardians at least five days prior to the abortion being performed. Input from both parents could help minors make better-informed decisions, and all parents ought to be aware if their child is undergoing such a traumatic procedure.
The Missouri Department of Social Services (DSS) is also charged with protecting families, and its most important function is protecting and finding a safe residence for children that must be removed from their homes. Caseworkers are currently required to complete investigations within 30 days, but DSS staff members have raised concerns that they need additional time to finish them.
The House passed HB 1092, sponsored by Representative Bill Lant (R-Pineville), which would change the timeframe to 30 business days, by a vote of 151 to 1. This legislation would only apply to actions that occur after the child is removed from their home, so emergency removals would not be delayed. By giving caseworkers adequate time to perform thorough and effective investigations, they will be able to produce the best outcomes for children in need. Our Appropriations – Health, Mental Health, and Social Services Committee also recommended allocating additional resources to the Children’s Division to better serve foster children.
Your Republican-led legislature will continue crafting legislation to improve the health and wellbeing of Missouri families, not through intrusive government mandates, but through smart policies that emphasize transparency, quality services, and personal choice.
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Representative Sue Allen 