|
Urge Senators to Fund Responsible Sexuality Education
You can take action on this alert by reading the information below and following the
directions at the bottom.
Sexuality Education Funding
On September 29, the Senate Finance Committee approved two amendments to the health care reform bill that would provide millions of dollars in funding -- one for comprehensive sex education and the other for abstinence-only-until-marriage programs.
Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) introduced an amendment allocating $75 million to states for The Personal Responsibility Education for Adulthood Training, a comprehensive sex education funding stream. Of that money, $50 million would be used for evidence-based, medically-accurate, age-appropriate programs that provide information about abstinence, contraception, HIV/AIDS, and healthy relationships. The other $25 million would fund new adolescent wellness programs, research, and evaluation. The Baucus Amendment passed 14-9 with all the Democratic members and Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME) voting in favor.
Surprisingly, the committee also voted in favor of an amendment, proposed by Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT), to reinstate $50 million per year to the failed Title V program, a funding stream for rigid and ineffective abstinence-only programs. These funds would be used solely for teaching abstinence-only-until-marriage to the exclusion of other sexual health topics. The Hatch Amendment passed 12-11 with support from all the Republican members and Senators Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) and Kent Conrad (D-ND).
Earlier this year, President Obama zeroed out all funding for abstinence-only-until-marriage programs, including Title V, from his 2010 budget. While the Obama budget and Baucus Amendment are huge victories for sexual health education funding, we must ensure that Congress keep any abstinence-only money out of the final budget. Both the amendments approved by the Senate Finance Committee are not final, as they will likely be debated further in committee, before the full Senate, and in conference with the House’s version of the health care reform bill.
Please contact Illinois Senators Roland Burris and Dick Durbin today! Send a quick message or make a phone call asking them to support funding for responsible sexuality education, to keep abstinence-only dollars out, and to urge their Senate colleagues to do the same.
Your message will be sent to each of the following targets:
Senator Richard J. Durbin
Senator Roland W. Burris
A sample message appears below, which you may edit before sending.
Please Urge Your Colleagues to Fund Responsible Sexual Health Education
Dear Senator Durbin,
On September 29, the Senate Finance Committee approved two amendments providing millions of dollars in funding for both comprehensive sexual health education and abstinence-only programs.
While I am pleased to see funding for responsible sexual health education, I am concerned about the $50 million per year allocated that would restore the ineffective Title V abstinence-only-until-marriage program. These funds would be used solely for teaching abstinence-only-until-marriage programs to the exclusion of other sexual health topics.
Numerous studies have found abstinence-only programs to be inaccurate, ineffective, and incomplete in educating our youth on crucial sexual health issues -- a prime example of wasteful spending of tax dollars. Instead, we need responsible sexual health education that informs youth how to make healthy decisions and promotes lifelong responsibility. Investment in responsible sexual health education contributes to a healthy and productive society.
Earlier this year, President Obama eliminated all funding for abstinence-only-until-marriage programs, including Title V, from his 2010 budget. Please urge your Senate colleagues to keep these abstinence dollars out of the budget and fund a responsible, comprehensive approach to sexual health education. Your name and address here
|
This Action Alert Campaign is Closed.
|
