Tuesday 13, 2011, legislation was announced on the floor of the House of Representatives to restore funding for abstinence-centered education. The Abstinence-Centered Education Reallocation Act of 2011 (H.R. 2874), sponsored by Rep. Randall Hultgren (R-IL), is a bill that will emphasize the sexual risk avoidance message found in abstinence programs.
Valerie Huber, Executive Director of the National Abstinence Education Association (NAEA) based in Washington, D.C., said in a press release, "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."
She continued, urging other Members of Congress to co-sponsor this bill, "NAEA applauds the leadership of Rep. Hultgren who has taken legislative action to support these positive trends in the healthy decisions teens are making … 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."
Both Mrs. Huber and Rep. Hultgren noted the healthy trend of fewer youth choosing to have sex. It's time to capitalize on this natural momentum and get behind this movement in a positive direction. Read more about this trend and the studies in the blog, "Healthy Trends: Fewer Youth Choosing to Have Sex."
Rep. Hultgren also wrote a Dear Colleague letter, which you can read here.
Citizens in support of sexual risk avoidance and setting abstinence as the expected standard for sexual behavior among our children should encourage their Members of Congress to co-sponsor Rep. Hultgren's bill, the Abstinence-Centered Education Reallocation Ac t of 2011 (H.R. 2874).
Contact: Chad Hills
Source: CitizenLink
