September 14, 2011
Release: Legislation Introduced to Restore Abstinence Funding
Yesterday, legislation was announced on the floor of the House of Representatives that will restore funding for Abstinence –Centered Education by reallocating prevention funds for this purpose. The Abstinence-Centered Education Reallocation Act, sponsored by Rep. Randall Hultgren (R-IL), is a bill that will put a priority on the sexual risk avoidance message found in abstinence programs. " Since President Obama chose to eliminate all funding for abstinence education, this bill is a welcome sign that sexual risk avoidance can once again be the primary prevention message that youth will receive in classrooms across America," stated Valerie Huber, Executive Director of the National Abstinence Education Association( NAEA).
The bill follows a recent HHS study, The National Survey of Adolescents and Their Parents which reported that 70% of parents and nearly as many teens support the abstinence until marriage message. It also acknowledges the recent CDC report that shows teens are increasingly choosing abstinence with 68% of boys and 67% of girls ages 15-17 reporting that they have not had sex. "NAEA applauds the leadership of Rep. Hultgren who has taken legislative action to support these positive trends in the healthy decisions teens are making," added Huber. "We encourage other Members of Congress to co-sponsor the Abstinence Education Reallocation Act of 2011 and urge the House to quickly approve the federal sex education policy change called for in this bill."
Click here to read the bill.
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NAEA is a professional association representing organizations and individuals who support a priority on risk avoidance through abstinence education. NAEA members serve students across the nation. For more information, visit the NAEA website: www.theNAEA.org and www.abstinenceworks.org.