Continuing funding for abstinence-only programs, despite evidence showing that these programs are ineffective, and denying our children access to information that could protect them, compromises the health and wellbeing of our youth.

With a recent CDC study indicating that 1 in 4 teen girls are living with a sexually transmitted infection (STI), and that 1 in 2 African American girls have an STI, we cannot afford to continue funding programs that do not work.

We need to get REAL about sex education. We should absolutely be teaching young people about abstinence, but we shouldn’t be holding back information that can save lives and prevent unwanted pregnancies.

Instead of abstinence-only, what we’re proposing is ‘abstinence-plus.’ My legislation, H.R. 1653, the Responsible Education About Life (REAL) Act, will create a federal funding stream for comprehensive sex education and I urge all Members of Congress to support it.

Rep. Lee is co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.

This entry was posted on Sunday, March 30th, 2008 at 9:55 am and is filed under Politics .