Aderholt Fights For Abstinence Education & Family Values

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CONGRESSMEN ADERHOLT & WAMP OFFER AN AMENDMENT TO RESTORE ABSTINENCE EDUCATION PROGRAM FUNDING

Rep. Aderholt Defends Abstinence and Family Values

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Robert Aderholt (R-Alabama) and Congressman Zach Wamp (R-Tennessee) today offered an amendment to restore funding that promotes abstinence and teen pregnancy prevention in the Fiscal Year 2010 Labor, Health and Human Services Appropriations Bill at a committee hearing. The amendment was defeated 24-35.

The Fiscal Year 2010 Labor, Health and Human Services Appropriations bill was originally drafted and submitted in the subcommittee to eliminate all abstinence-only funding which focuses on preventing teenage pregnancies, a provision supported by President Obama.

Rep. Aderholt’s amendment would have allowed abstinence-only education organizations which had previously received a 5-year grant to continue receiving this necessary federal funding.

“Unfortunately, America’s family values are under attack by many in Washington DC,” said Congressman Aderholt. “With 1 in 4 teen girls having at least 1 sexually transmitted disease and the teen birth rate increasing, it is vital that teens receive comprehensive education that promotes healthy and safe lifestyles.”

"Abstinence education works,” said Congressman Zach Wamp. “’Sex education’ should begin at home. Parents should educate their children but if we are going to provide federal funding, we should include abstinence education because abstinence works 100 percent of the time. In Hamilton County, Tenn., we have seen great success in the effectiveness of abstinence education programs to reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies.”

According to the National Abstinence Education Association, comprehensive sex education is currently funded at four times the level of abstinence education. Without Rep. Aderholt’s amendment, the House Labor, HHS Appropriations bill will now cut off funding for current abstinence-only education grantees.

As a result of the exclusion of this funding, community based abstinence education programs around the country will be terminated or unfunded, including a loss of $2.7 million in grant money for the state of Alabama.

Congressman Aderholt also said during today’s hearing, “A 2006 Zogby poll demonstrated that parents prefer abstinence education. In fact, an overwhelming 78% of parents believe that sex education classes should emphasize abstinence.”

“Yet, this bill completely strips all funding from the program, and would not even allow existing grantees to complete the terms of their grant.”

“Just 9 months ago, this program was funded at $113 million. It was reduced to $95 million under this year’s omnibus bill. But this FY10 Labor-HHS Appropriations bill cut the program entirely.”

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CLICK HERE to see the video of Rep. Aderholt's hearing statement

Rep. Aderholt serves on the powerful House Appropriations Committee, as the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Legislative Branch, and a member of the Commerce, Justice and Science Subcommittee.