by: 
AFY_Will
AFY_WillWednesday, April 7, 2010 at 11:19:00 AM EDT
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Our good friends at RHRealityCheck and SIECUS have a great post today looking at the sudden reappearance of Title V abstinence-only-until-marriage funding in the new health care reform bill.
Jen Heitel Yakush writes:
The Title V abstinence-only-until-marriage program was on its way out anyway – At the time that the program was allowed to expire at the end of June 2009, nearly half the states had opted out of the program for reasons ranging from the fiscal burden it created to serious ethical concerns about foisting a failed programs onto young people.
For all of these reasons, the Title V abstinence-only-until-marriage was allowed to lapse and take its place in the musty crypts of failed federal legislation.
So, what has changed so drastically in the past nine months that warrants reviving the program?
Well… nothing. Congress had it right last year when they pulled the plug, and the programs, right-wing extremists, and their agenda remain the same. Unfortunately, the programs were reinserted in health reform for unknown--but clearly political--reasons only.
Still, this should not, and cannot, be the end of the fight to defeat funding for these programs. Congress will always have the opportunity and ability to cut funding for the program, and they should exercise that ability as soon as possible.
For all of these reasons, the Title V abstinence-only-until-marriage was allowed to lapse and take its place in the musty crypts of failed federal legislation.
So, what has changed so drastically in the past nine months that warrants reviving the program?
Well… nothing. Congress had it right last year when they pulled the plug, and the programs, right-wing extremists, and their agenda remain the same. Unfortunately, the programs were reinserted in health reform for unknown--but clearly political--reasons only.
Still, this should not, and cannot, be the end of the fight to defeat funding for these programs. Congress will always have the opportunity and ability to cut funding for the program, and they should exercise that ability as soon as possible.
The piece also includes a new video interview with Jen and Advocates' own James Wagoner.
Check out the video and I'd encourage everyone to read Jen's blog in full.
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