ADVOCATES FOR YOUTH

Congress Approves Additional Funding for Ineffective Sex Education Programs

Bush Administration Continues to Put Ideology Before Science and Research

WASHINGTON, DC (December 20, 2001) Today, the Senate joined the House of Representatives in approving, by a vote of 90-7, over $100 million for unproven abstinence-only-until-marriage programs. This marks an increase of 25% from FY 2001.

This increase comes just months after Surgeon General David Satcher's Call to Action to Promote Sexual Health and Responsible Sexual Behavior cited the need for sexuality education that stresses abstinence, but also provides medically accurate information about contraception and birth control. Current federal abstinence-only-until-marriage programs censor critical information about contraception.

"Medical experts, including the Surgeon General of the United States, sent a clear message to politicians: follow the research, support what works, and stop investing millions of dollars into unproven abstinence-only-until-marriage programs," said James Wagoner, President of Advocates for Youth.

The Surgeon General's Call to Action is just one of several reports, issued by such organizations as the Institute of Medicine (IOM), the American Medical Association (AMA), and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) calling for sexuality education that includes information about abstinence and contraception.

"Despite expert findings, our government continues to allocate more taxpayer dollars for ineffective sexuality education programs," said Wagoner. "Congress should stop all additional funding until the current evaluation of these programs is complete."

A recent comprehensive review of evaluation research, Emerging Answers: Research Findings on Programs to Reduce Teen Pregnancy by Douglas Kirby, consistently found that comprehensive sexuality education programs delay the onset of intercourse, reduce the frequency of intercourse, reduce the number of sexual partners, and increase condom and contraceptive use.

Advocates for Youth is calling on policy makers to take a stand for America's teens and to support increased funding for realistic, balanced sexuality education that provides young people with information about both abstinence and contraception.

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.

###

Note to Editors and Producers: For more information or to set up an interview with adolescent sexuality experts, please contact Bill Barker at (202) 419-3420.

RETURN TO INDEX OF PRESS RELEASES >>