In an about-face, a Democratic-led House committee voted Thursday to increase funding for a key abstinence-education program.
The Community Based Abstinence Education program (CBAE) is set to receive $141 million for fiscal year 2008. That's more than President Bush requested ($137 million) and more than in FY 2007 ($109 million).
The action, although promising, still must face the full House, where it could be struck or amended. Another source of federal funding, Title V, which allocates $50 million for abstinence education, is still set to expire at the end of this month.
"We are cautiously optimistic with this preliminary decision," said Linda Klepacki, sexual health analyst for Focus on the Family Action. "This allocation of funds would continue to provide our schoolchildren with the primary public health message of abstinence-until-marriage education."
Valerie Huber of the National Abstinence Education Association applauded the vote, telling The Washington Times that abstinence education "is a public health message that deserves to be continued."
According to CQ Today, Democrats hope the increase in funding for the Community Based Abstinence Education Program will garner support from Republicans on spending bills. With bipartisan support, Congress hopes to override any veto from Bush.
Wendy Wright, president of Concerned Women for America, pointed to a recent Zogby poll that found 83 percent of parents favor educating their children to wait until marriage to have sex.
“Parents want abstinence education for their kids,” Wright said in a statement. She noted that the government spends $12 to promote contraceptives for every $1 spent on abstinence.
The subcommittee voted to increase Title X family planning funding by $27.8 million to $311 million. A good percentage of that goes to Planned Parenthood, the nation's No. 1 abortion provider.
Klepacki said family advocates need to get involved.
"Please continue to contact your lawmakers to voice your support for abstinence education," she said. "Ask them to vote in favor of this appropriation of funds until these funds are secure."
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Watch Stuart Shepard's Stoplight video commentary: "Defending Abstinence."
TAKE ACTION
Urge your representative to support funding for abstinence education.
(Paid for by Focus on the Family Action)
