February 09, 2005
(Washington,DC) – Representative Barbara Lee (D-CA-09) and Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) today held a press conference today to announce the introduction of the Responsible Education About Life (REAL) Act, a measure to provide funding to states for comprehensive sexuality education programs that would include medically accurate information about abstinence and contraception.
“It is time to get REAL about protecting our young people,” said Rep. Lee. “It is time to get REAL about providing our young people with the tools they need to stop unwanted pregnancies and fight HIV/AIDS and other deadly diseases.”
The bill, which has 65 cosponsors and support from a broad coalition more than 140 organizations, will create a grant program administered by the Department of Health and Human Services that would award $206 million per year to states for comprehensive sexuality education. While there are three separate federal programs that fund abstinence-only-until-marriage programs, no federal funding currently exists specifically for comprehensive sexuality education. Currently, states can only receive funding if they agree to teach abstinence-only-until-marriage while excluding information about the health benefits of contraception to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.
Rep. Lee and Sen. Lautenberg were joined by youth advocates and young people who discussed their experience and the need for comprehensive, medically accurate sexuality education.
“In too many districts and states around the country my generation is denied access to one of the most important forms of education – a comprehensive sex education that will empower young people to make responsible, well informed decisions about their lives,” said Sarah Audelo, a 20 year old from Bakersfield, California who attends Georgetown University.
Public opinion overwhelmingly supports comprehensive sexuality education. According to polls, 93 percent of Americans support comprehensive sex education in high schools, and seven in 10 Americans oppose the use of federal funds to promote abstinence-only programs that prohibit teaching about condoms and contraception.
The funding the REAL Act would provide is especially important in Rep. Lee’s home state of California . Since 1998, California has lost over $45 million in funds because of its decision not to accept federal grants that require abstinence-only-until marriage be taught according to a strict 8 point definition.
Rep. Lee first introduced this bill, then called the Family Life Education Act (FLEA), in 2001. She is widely recognized for her leadership on HIV/AIDS issues and for working on a bipartisan basis to develop pragmatic, effective measures to stop the pandemic.
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Rep. Lee and Sen. Lautenberg Announce 'Responsible Education About Life' (REAL) Act
Students Discuss Need for Comprehensive, Medically Accurate Sex Education
(Washington,DC) – Representative Barbara Lee (D-CA-09) and Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) today held a press conference today to announce the introduction of the Responsible Education About Life (REAL) Act, a measure to provide funding to states for comprehensive sexuality education programs that would include medically accurate information about abstinence and contraception.
“It is time to get REAL about protecting our young people,” said Rep. Lee. “It is time to get REAL about providing our young people with the tools they need to stop unwanted pregnancies and fight HIV/AIDS and other deadly diseases.”
The bill, which has 65 cosponsors and support from a broad coalition more than 140 organizations, will create a grant program administered by the Department of Health and Human Services that would award $206 million per year to states for comprehensive sexuality education. While there are three separate federal programs that fund abstinence-only-until-marriage programs, no federal funding currently exists specifically for comprehensive sexuality education. Currently, states can only receive funding if they agree to teach abstinence-only-until-marriage while excluding information about the health benefits of contraception to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.
Rep. Lee and Sen. Lautenberg were joined by youth advocates and young people who discussed their experience and the need for comprehensive, medically accurate sexuality education.
“In too many districts and states around the country my generation is denied access to one of the most important forms of education – a comprehensive sex education that will empower young people to make responsible, well informed decisions about their lives,” said Sarah Audelo, a 20 year old from Bakersfield, California who attends Georgetown University.
Public opinion overwhelmingly supports comprehensive sexuality education. According to polls, 93 percent of Americans support comprehensive sex education in high schools, and seven in 10 Americans oppose the use of federal funds to promote abstinence-only programs that prohibit teaching about condoms and contraception.
The funding the REAL Act would provide is especially important in Rep. Lee’s home state of California . Since 1998, California has lost over $45 million in funds because of its decision not to accept federal grants that require abstinence-only-until marriage be taught according to a strict 8 point definition.
Rep. Lee first introduced this bill, then called the Family Life Education Act (FLEA), in 2001. She is widely recognized for her leadership on HIV/AIDS issues and for working on a bipartisan basis to develop pragmatic, effective measures to stop the pandemic.
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