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Editor's Note: This post is from James Wagoner, President of Advocates for Youth
Last fall, conservatives in Congress managed to include funding for abstinence-only-until-marriage programs in one of the health care reform bills. Currently abstinence-only funding remains in the Senate bill that will serve as the backbone of the final health care package. Without your assistance, these funds- $250 million over the next five years- will remain in the bill. We are continuing to work with colleagues on the Hill to remove this funding, but we need your help! It’s not too late for Congress to take action.
Last year, President Obama took the long-overdue step of eliminating federal funding for failed abstinence-only-until-marriage programs. But, abstinence-only supporters in Congress are determined to find new ways to funnel federal dollars to these ineffective programs.
After more than a year of debate about health care reform – and more than a decade of research – three things are clear:
- Abstinence-only-until-marriage programs simply do not work. In fact, they leave young people at risk by denying them information about contraceptives and condoms.
- Abstinence-only programs are not health care reform. This amendment was nothing more than an ideological give-away.
- It’s time for Congress to stop throwing good money at bad programs. The federal government has already wasted more than $1.5 billion on failed abstinence-only programs. We don’t need to waste $250 million more.
Well, here’s one way to save $250 million: Eliminate unnecessary spending on failed abstinence-only-until-marriage programs!
TAKE ACTION NOW: Tell Congress it's time to end federal funding for abstinence-only programs once and for all. Remove abstinence-only funding from health care reform!
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