[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 24 (Tuesday, February 27, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H1297]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           TEENAGE PREGNANCY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Taylor of North Carolina). Under a 
previous order of the House, the gentlewoman from North Carolina [Mrs. 
Clayton] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mrs. CLAYTON. Mr. Speaker, teenage pregnancy is a condition that can 
be controlled and prevented in many instances.
  Yet, 30 percent of all out-of-wedlock births are to teenagers, below 
the age of 20.
  That astonishing reality should be alarming to all in Congress.
  No other industrialized nation, with a population comparable to the 
United States, has a problem of this magnitude.
  On the issue of teenage pregnancy, we have the dubious distinction of 
leading the world.
  Why, you may ask, is this problem out of control?
  Simply put, it is out of control because we have not taken steps to 
control it.
  That is changing.
  In January, President Clinton announced a bipartisan ``National 
Campaign To Reduce Teenage Pregnancy.''
  The mission of the campaign is, ``To reduce teenage pregnancy by 
supporting values and stimulating actions that are consistent with a 
pregnancy-free adolescence.''
  The goal of the campaign is, ``To reduce the teenage pregnancy rate 
by one-third by the year 2005.''
  Neither party, nor politics, nor philosophy should stand against this 
vital mission and this critical goal.
  This is an issue that we should be able to work together regardless 
of our party affiliation. The mission is difficult, but it can be done. 
The goal is demanding, but it is within our reach.
  As we consider how and where to reduce spending, we must not forget 
that teenage pregnancies cause a heavy burden on the Federal budget.
  Medicaid funds, food stamps, and AFDC funds are especially hard-hit 
by the teenage pregnancy problem.
  If we want to balance the budget, let us begin by working to bring 
some balance to the lives of thousands and thousands of our teenagers, 
involved in premature childbearing.
  Teenage pregnancies cause a heavy burden on society and it robs 
teenagers of their youth and robs their children of the benefit of 
mature parents.
  A recent report to Congress on out-of-wedlock childbearing indicates 
that 35 percent of all out-of-wedlock births are to women over age 25; 
35 percent are to women 20 to 24 years of age and 30 percent are to 
teenagers.
  Thirty percent of all out-of-wedlock births are to teenagers.
  One objective of welfare reform, shared by both political parties, is 
to reduce teenage childbearing.
  Pending legislation on welfare reform, however, embraces an 
unreasoned approach to reduce the number of out-of-wedlock births, by 
denying cash benefits to unwed teenage mothers.
  This unreasoned approach is based on the perception that the current 
system has failed and contends that any proposed change, such as 
denying children food and medical care, must be a good change. Thus, 
those who propose eliminating welfare benefits to young unwed mothers 
argue that their approach can't make matters any worse than they 
already are.

  Change for the sake of change is empty.
  We need change, but we need change for the better. Such proposals 
appear premised on the belief that if Government ignores teen parents, 
they will go away or get married.
  There is little or no research to support such contentions.
  Reason, on the other hand, suggests that even if the belief held true 
for some, there would be many young children and mothers left 
destitute.
  Reducing teenage childbearing is likely to require more than 
eliminating or manipulating welfare programs.
  The underlying causes are economic and social poverty, lack of 
education, family and community support, adult guidance, and violence 
are all linked together.
  These are not problems isolated to the very poor, but rather problems 
that cut a wide path across the entire spectrum--very wide and very 
deep.
  There is considerable evidence that life skills training in 
combination with other social prevention programs have been very 
effective with young people who use alcohol, drugs, and tobacco and 
engage in other destructive behavior.
  As a society we must consider an array of programs that foster 
positive and responsible development of our youth.

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