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March 8, 2005

Thanks to calls from Eagle Forum members no amendment was offered in the Senate Finance Committee this week to change the definition of abstinence education. However, there is still a strong possiblity there will be amendments offered to change the definition when it comes to the floor.

Don't Mess With A Good Thing: Abstinence Education Works! Tell the Senate to vote NO on changing the definition of abstinence education! On March 9, 2005, the Senate Finance Committee will consider the Personal Responsibility, Work, and Family Promotion Act of 2005, better known as Welfare Reform. This bill contains the definition of abstinence education, which upholds abstinence until marriage as the expected standard of behavior for all school age children and requires curriculum to inform students of the physical and emotional risks of sexual behavior outside of marriage. There is a credible threat that Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT) will attempt to amend the definition of abstinence education to include contraception and so-called "safe sex" promotion. There is also a chance that an amendment will be offered on so-called "medical accuracy" or to authorize spending for a whole new sex ed program. The members of the committee must be contacted and asked to abstain from amending the definition of abstinence education, and to vote against any anti-abstinence amendments. The Facts Show Abstinence Education WORKS! The CDC found that 53% of the drop in the teen pregnancy rate was due to increased abstinence. Another peer-reviewed, published research paper found that 100% of the drop in the single teen birth rate was due to teen abstinence. No condom-based sex education program has ever been shown to prevent teen pregnancy, STD's or HIV/AIDS. Condom promotion has failed both domestically and internationally to prevent sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and premarital pregnancy. The national teenage pregnancy rate fell 28% in the past decade, from 116.9 per 1,000 teenage girls ages 15 - 19 in 1990 to 83.6 in 2000. The teenage abortion rate fell from 40 out of every 100 pregnancies to 33. Teen pregnancy costs taxpayers $7 billion a year. Contact members on the Senate Finance Committee and tell them to vote NO on any anti-abstinence amendments to the Welfare Reform bill! TAKE ACTION   Call Senators on the Senate Finance Committee and tell them to vote NO on any change of the definition of abstinence education! Members of the Senate Finance Committee: Grassley, Hatch, Lott, Snow, Kyl, Thomas, Santorum, Frist, Gordon Smith, Bunning, Crapo, Baucus, Rockefeller, Conrad, Jeffords, Bingaman, Kerry, Lincoln, Wyden, Schumer, McConnell. Capitol Switchboard: (202)-224-3121

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