Senate Committee Restores $50 Million in Abstinence Education Funding

The Senate Finance Committee voted to restore $50 million a year in federal funding for abstinence-only education. One abstinence education supporter said the action was a victory for “the hard work of grassroots” efforts.

Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) sponsored the measure, which passed over the objections of committee chairman Senator Max Baucus (D-Mont.). All ten Republicans and two Democrats, Sens. Kent Conrad of North Dakota and Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas, voted for the measure.

President Barack Obama in his 2010 budget has proposed to redirect money spent on abstinence-only education towards broader teen pregnancy-reduction programs.

By a 14-9 margin the committee also passed an alternative measure offered by Baucus. It would fund education on contraception, sexually transmitted diseases and other topics in addition to abstinence. According to the Associated Press, lawmakers must reconcile the two measures, which are part of a health care overhaul bill.

Senator Hatch said abstinence education had been shown to work, while Senator Baucus disagreed.
While abstinence-until-marriage programs received $102 million in government funding in 2002, teen sex education and contraception programs received at least $427.7 million.

Despite this gulf in funding, abstinence programs have been very effective in helping students postpone sexual activity, thereby reducing the threat of sexually-transmitted diseases and unwed pregnancy.

Some such successful programs are: Choosing the Best; Teen-Aid, Inc., The Art of Loving Well Project; Operation Keepsake; and virginity pledges. The Family Research Council published an executive summary on evaluations of these abstinence-only programs and their effectiveness.

“Choosing the Best:” Northwestern University Medical School found that in 1996 54% of teens who were recently sexually active before participating in the program were no longer sexually active one year later.

“Teen-Aid, Inc.:” A 1999 study found that 47% of students said they were less likely to have sexual intercourse before they got married on the pre-test; compared to 54% that said the same after taking the course.

“Operation Keepsake”: a 2001 evaluation found that students had higher abstinence-until-marriage values at the follow-up survey than did those who did not attend the abstinence program.

Finally, a 2001 study based on the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health demonstrated that teens who take a virginity pledge are 34% less likely to have sex before marriage compared to those who do not pledge.

The conclusion is that equitable funding would help such successful programs to serve more schools and communities and help more teens make healthy choices.

Valerie Huber, executive director of National Abstinence Education Association, praised the restoration of abstinence funding.

“It is encouraging that the hard work of grassroots constituencies from across the country have prevailed to ensure these common-sense programs will continue,” Huber commented.

“While the amendment still needs to pass a Senate floor vote, this decision is a significant step in the right direction for the optimal health of America’s youth,” Huber said.

The Americano / Agencies

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