Spring has sprung in Washington, DC, and while many buses line the streets packed with students touring the National Monuments, another group of students came to Washington this week for a different purpose: To tell policymakers about the impact that abstinence education has had in their lives.
This year’s annual Abstinence Day on the Hill was of particular significance because of recent studies that suggest abstinence education could delay sexual activity in teenagers.
In a study evaluating the effectiveness of abstinence-based programs, researchers found that from a total of 22 studies reviewed, 17 studies reported statistically significant positive results in delaying sexual activity among adolescents.
Testimonials from students who came to Capitol Hill this week shed light on why abstinence-based programs have been effective. They expressed gratitude for the programs and directly attributed their successes in life thus far to their decision to delay sexual activity with the goal of waiting until marriage.
Research has shown that nearly two-thirds of poor children in America live in single-parent homes. Preventing teen pregnancy is not only beneficial to our economy, but also helps young adolescents avoid the emotional distress that often comes along with early sexual activity.
Abstinence education can help avert dependency on welfare. In a 2004 report analyzing federal spending on abstinence programs, Robert Rector, a Senior Research Fellow at The Heritage Foundation, found that:
Women who begin sexual activity at an early age are far more likely to become pregnant and give birth out of wedlock and to be single mothers. Since single mothers are far more likely to be poor, early sexual activity is linked to higher levels of child and maternal poverty.
In an address to participants of Abstinence Day on the Hill, Congressman Phil Gingrey (R-GA) pointed out that abstinence education not only promotes the importance of being disciplined but also invokes the determination to make wise choices.
Abstinence education is not just about delaying sex. It’s about teaching young adolescents the importance of healthy relationships, building self-confidence, and showing how setting positive goals can significantly improve their future lives.
Teaching the importance of abstinence helps adolescents understand how the consequences of sexual relationships at a young age can greatly alter their future. Robert Rector pointed out that teens who abstain from sexual activity are two times more likely to graduate from college than their counterparts who are sexually active.
It is puzzling as to why some politicians and opponents of abstinence education continue to reject abstinence education, especially since surveys have shown that 80 percent of parents want schools to teach their students to “abstain from sexual activity until they are in a committed adult romantic relationship nearing marriage.”
Why should educators promote the use of contraceptives over abstinence, especially since most parents desire otherwise?
Standing up for abstinence education is not always an easy task, but is clearly of vital importance. We congratulate the students who participated in this year’s Abstinence Day on the Hill, and encourage them and others to continue their leadership in promoting healthy behaviors and showing how abstaining from sexual behavior during adolescent years can have a lasting and positive impact on their lives.
House Cloakroom: March 22 – 26, 2010
Analysis:
House members are staying in town through the weekend as health care continues to hang over everyone’s heads. The House Rules Committee is tentatively scheduled to meet tomorrow to consider the now infamous “Slaughter rule” which would deem the Senate bill passed before they move on to the reconciliation bill. Speaker Pelosi summed up her approval of this measure by saying “I like it, this scenario, because people don’t have to vote on the Senate bill.” On Sunday the House is then expected to meet to pass the Slaughter rule and then immediately proceed to debate and soon after that vote on the House reconciliation package to amend the Senate bill with a previously House passed student loan bill. It is important to note that the House will be doing this without a full economic score of the legislation from the Congressional Budget Office. Additionally, while the Rules Committee is getting ready for the big show on Saturday, the rest of the House will be focusing its attention on a $16.8 billion tax incentive bill targeted at small business and state and local governments.
Major Floor Action:
- Slaughter Rule to deem the Senate bill passed.
- House Reconciliation package (HR 4872) with revised Senate passed health care bill and student loan bill (HR 3221).
- HR 4849 Small Business and Infrastructure Jobs Tax Act of 2010
Major Committee Action:
- The House Natural Resources Committee Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources will hold an oversight hearing on the fiscal 2011 budget requests for the Mineral Management Services, the Bureau of Land Management, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, and the United States Geological Survey. A recent blog post outlines how these agencies impact the west.
- The Ways and Means will hold a hearing on china exchange rate policy. Derek Scissors, Research Fellow for Asia Economic Policy outlined what won’t work with china and what might here.
Senate Cloakroom: March 22 – 26, 2010
Analysis:
The Senate stands on high alert, prepared for the equivalent of legislative nuclear war. If the House successfully pulls off the deem-and-pass gimmick on Obamacare, the Senate will deal with a reconciliation measure that raises $155 billion in taxes, cuts sweetheart deals and takes over the student loan industry. The House process clearly undermines the rule of law and the Senate process gimmicks are clearly undermining the will of the people. Conservatives in the Senate, and those who respect the rule of law and their constituents, are likely to use every tool at their disposal to prevent the reconciliation measure from going to the President’s desk should the House succeed with deem-and-pass.
Major Floor Action:
- On Monday, the Senate will complete consideration of FAA reauthorization.
- If Speaker Pelosi successfully rams Obamacare through the House, the Senate will spend the remainder of the week debating and amending the reconciliation measure.
Major Committee Action:
Because of the potential for near constant voting that will be required during consideration of Obamacare’s reconciliation measure, major committee action is unlikely. However, Banking Chairman Chris Dodd (D-CT) has pledged to begin the markup of his latest problematic bank overhaul plan Monday afternoon.