A U.S. House subcommittee removed almost a hundred million dollars of abstinence-education funding from the 2010 federal budget last week. And Democrats allowed the only other funding stream for abstinence education to expire last month. That means Congress has all but virtually eliminated any funding for abstinence education.
The House Appropriations Committee's subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services and Education voted to eliminate funding for Community Based Abstinence Education (CBAE). Recipients of CBAE funds — the largest funding stream for abstinence education — include pregnancy centers and charitable organizations throughout the country.
Valerie Huber, president of the National Abstinence Education Association, said:
"The signs that we're seeing to this point are showing that maybe politics are playing a more important role than the health of kids in some decisions that are being made in Congress."
Huber said the fight will continue to protect the only curriculum that is going to help students avoid all the risks associated with sexual activity, including unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections.
The bill still must go before the full House and then to the Senate.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
For more information and to contact your lawmakers, visit the National Abstinence Education Association's Web site.
— Steve Jordahl
