ADVOCATES FOR YOUTH

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“REAL” Sex Education for America’s Youth

Statement by James Wagoner, President, Advocates for Youth

Good afternoon – my name is James Wagoner and I am President of Advocates for Youth.

I would like to thank Reps. Lee and Shays and Senator Lautenberg not just for their leadership in introducing this landmark legislation, but also for their faith in young people - - for their belief that young people can take responsibility for important life decisions when they are provided with all the education, information, and support that they need.

The REAL Act should represent both a beginning and an end. A beginning, because REAL will finally bring common sense to public health policy by including abstinence and contraception in sex education. A beginning, because REAL will give parents what they want and young people what they need - - honest, accurate, effective programs in our schools and local communities.

And the introduction of the REAL Act will hopefully also represent an end - - an end to abstinence-only-until-marriage programs in this country. Not just because the Institute of Medicine has called for the elimination of these programs; not just because a former top CDC official has ranked their effectiveness at “near zero”; not just because the GAO has declared that there is no oversight of program content; and not even because recent regulations extend the reach of abstinence-only programs to 29 year-olds – 95 percent of whom have already had sex.

These programs must end because they promote ignorance in the era of AIDS; put politics and ideology before science, and promote censorship in lieu of prevention.

Ten years and $1.5 billion dollars later, enough is enough. The overriding consensus among mainstream medical and public health organizations, parents, and young people themselves sends a clear and unambiguous message. The new leadership of this congress must terminate funding for these programs and pass the REAL Act. Anything short of these goals would represent a profound breach of trust with sound public health principles and with the young people in this country who are expecting this congress to finally do the right thing.

In closing, I would like to thank Reps. Lee and Shays and Senator Lautenberg once again for introducing legislation that not only promotes sound policy but also sound values. This bill recognizes the right of young people to honest, accurate information, it shows respect for young people as individuals capable of making good decisions when provided with all the tools, and it stresses the responsibility of adults to provide those tools and for young people to use them.

Thank you both for your vision and leadership. We promise to do everything in our power to ensure the passage of the REAL Act.

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Advocates for Youth is a national, nonprofit organization that creates programs and supports policies that help young people make safe, responsible decisions about their sexual and reproductive health.

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