Critical Hearing on Abstinence Education Funding

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Critical Hearing on Abstinence Education Funding

Special Report - April 17, 2008
Next Wednesday, April 23, the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is scheduled to discuss the future of federal abstinence education funding. Following the hearing, the U.S. Congress is expected to decide how to budget federal funds for Community-Based Abstinence Education programs and abstinence education dollars made available to the states through the federal Title V program.

Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA), an outspoken critic of abstinence education, chairs the committee. In 2004, Waxman released a controversial report, charging that the overwhelming majority of abstinence-only sex education programs are misleading and inaccurate. Although a subsequent analysis by The Heritage Foundation revealed that the Waxman report contained inaccuracies and misstatements about abstinence education, he continues to criticize abstinence education as ineffective and promotes condom-based sex education. According to the National Abstinence Education Association (NCAE), Waxman has invited five proponents of comprehensive sex education to speak at the April 23 hearing, while only one abstinence-supporter, Dr. Stan Weed, has been placed on the agenda.

“Abstinence-only education has been under continuous attack on the state and federal level from comprehensive sex education proponents who want to cut or eliminate federal abstinence funding and increase spending on condom-based messages,” said John Rustin, North Carolina Family Policy Council vice president and director of government relations. “Not only was the federal Title V abstinence program modeled after North Carolina’s abstinence until marriage education law, but those federal dollars are instrumental in assisting North Carolina’s public schools to teach students that sexual activity is to be reserved for marriage. We encourage members of Congress to see beyond this agenda-driven hearing and continue to provide funding for effective and authentic abstinence until marriage education,” Rustin concluded.

For more information about the benefits of abstinence until marriage education and the risks associated with comprehensive sex education, download our Policy Paper, Abstinence Until Marriage or Comprehensive Sex Education, and our Issue Brief, Abstinence Education Works.