The Abstinence Clearinghouse Blog

Washington, D.C.–Congressman Robert Aderholt (R-Alabama) and Congressman Zach Wamp (R-Tennessee) today offered an amendment to restore funding that promotes abstinence and teen pregnancy prevention in the Fiscal Year 2010 Labor, Health and Human Services Appropriations Bill at a committee hearing.  The amendment was defeated 24-35.

The Fiscal Year 2010 Labor, Health and Human Services Appropriations bill was originally drafted and submitted in the subcommittee to eliminate all abstinence-only funding which focuses on preventing teenage pregnancies, a provision supported by President Obama.

Rep. Aderholt’s amendment would have allowed abstinence-only education organizations which had previously received a 5-year grant to continue receiving this necessary federal funding.

“Unfortunately, America’s family values are under attack by many in Washington DC,” said Congressman Aderholt.  “With 1 in 4 teen girls having at least 1 sexually transmitted disease and the teen birth rate increasing, it is vital that teens receive comprehensive education that promotes healthy and safe lifestyles.”

As a result of the exclusion of this funding, community based abstinence education programs around the country will be terminated or unfunded, including a loss of $2.7 million in grant money for the state of Alabama.

Congressman Aderholt also said during the hearing, “A 2006 Zogby poll demonstrated that parents prefer abstinence education.  In fact, an overwhelming 78% of parents believe that sex education classes should emphasize abstinence.”

“Yet this bill completely strips all funding from the program, and would not even allow existing grantees to complete he terms of their grant.”

“Just 9 months ago, this program was funded as $113 million.  It was reduced to $95 million under this ear’s omnibus bill.  But this FY!) Labor-HHS Appropriations bill cut the program entirely.”