[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 45 (Thursday, March 28, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3104-S3105]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
TEEN PREGNANCY PREVENTION WEEK
Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, I have sought recognition to comment
about the establishment of Teen Pregnancy Prevention Week in the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania from March 18 to March 24, and about a
meeting of a number of people at Central High School in Philadelphia on
Friday, March 15, at 3 p.m. where a group of educators, ministers,
students, and I spoke briefly about this subject.
There is enormous controversy on the subject of pro-choice, pro-life,
but there is a consensus that there ought to be the maximum effort made
toward prevention of teen pregnancy and that, to the extent possible,
information should be distributed and there ought to be positive peer
pressure on teens on the subject of abstinence.
The birth rate among teenagers remains at a surprisingly and
alarmingly high level compared to those of nearly all other developed
countries. In Pennsylvania, the pregnancy rate is 58.3 per 1,000
females aged 15 to 25.
A proclamation was adopted which I ask unanimous consent to be
printed at the conclusion of these remarks on Teen Pregnancy Prevention
Week.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
(See exhibit 1.)
Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, this is in line with efforts which are
now being made by the Appropriations Subcommittee which I chair, Labor,
Health, Human Services and Education, to allocate more funding for
Title XX on abstinence. This is a funding issue which I have been
active in at the specific request of our colleague, Senator Jeremiah
Denton, who was a major spokesman for this issue prior to his departure
from the Senate back in 1987.
Mr. President, it is my intention to introduce legislation to
increase funding and authorization on the abstinence issue and, also,
legislation to promote adoption with tax breaks. My staff and I are
currently in the process of securing cosponsors for that legislation,
which I anticipate introducing sometime in the latter portion of April.
Mr. President, at this point, I ask unanimous consent that the full
text of the proclamation be printed in the Record together with the
list of the speakers who spoke at the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Week
press conference back on March 15, 1996, together with a copy of the
``Dear Colleague'' letter which I am circulating with the request that
any of my colleagues who wish to support this legislation let me know
so they may be added as cosponsors.
There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in
the Record, as follows:
Philadelphia Family Policy Council,
Philadelphia, PA, March 14, 1996.
Teen Pregnancy Prevention Week Press Conference Speakers List
1. William Devlin, Director, Philadelphia Family Policy
Council.
2. Reverend Ray Barnard, pastor, Impacting Your World
Christian Center.
3. Dr. Della Blair, Founder and Director, Blair Christian
Academy.
4. Dr. Keith Herzog, prediatrician, affiliated with Holy
Redeemer Hospital and Medical Center and St. Christopher's
Hospital for Children.
5. Reverend Herb Lusk, pastor, Greater Exodus Baptist
Church.
6. Tim Julien, Senior at Central High School.
7. Monica Sneed, Junior at Girls' High.
8. Rachel Toliver, Junior at Central High School.
9. Dan Kim, student at Central High School.
10. Senator Arlen Specter; Signing of Proclamation.
____
U.S. Senate,
Select Committee on Intelligence,
Washington, DC, March 25, 1996.
Dear Colleague: I am writing to urge you to cosponsor two
bills I intend to introduce shortly: the Adolescent Family
Life and Abstinence Education Act of 1996 and the Adoption
Promotion Act of 1996.
While there are obviously great differences of opinion on
the pro-life/pro-choice issue, there is a consensus that all
efforts should be made to prevent unwanted teen pregnancies
through abstinence. The first bill does just that.
Where tax breaks for adoption would encourage carrying to
term, we should act on that as well. The second bill does
just that.
The following describes the essence of the two bills:
Adolescent Family Life and Abstinence Education Act of
1996.--Reauthorizes the Adolescent Family Life (Title XX)
program, which funds demonstration projects focusing on
abstinence, adolescent sexuality, adoption alternatives,
pregnancy and parenting. This program had bipartisan support
when originally enacted in 1981 and when it was reauthorized
in 1984. Authority for Title XX expired in 1985 and since
then, the program has been operating under funding provided
in the annual Labor, HHS, and Education Appropriations bill.
For FY 1996, the Labor, HHS, and Education Appropriations
Subcommittee, which I chair, has provided $7.7 million for
the Adolescent Family Life program. Congress should
reauthorize Title XX to demonstrate our commitment to
abstinence education and the physical and emotional health of
adolescents.
The Adoption Promotion Act of 1996.--Provides tax
incentives to encourage adoption, a policy which serves as a
compassionate response to children whose own parents are
unable or unwilling to care for them. This is particularly
important in an era when so many teenagers are having babies
and are unable to care for them. This proposal is based
substantially on the provisions contained in the balanced
budget legislation which Congress passed in 1995 but was
vetoed by the President.
I hope you will cosponsor one or both of these bills. If
you are interested, please contact me or have your staff
contact Dan Renberg at 224-4254.
Sincerely,
Arlen Specter.
P.S. A more detailed statement of the bills is enclosed. My
office and I would be glad to provide additional information
upon request.
Exhibit 1
Whereas, In the United States, birth rates among teenagers
remain at alarmingly high levels compared to those of nearly
all other developed countries and in Pennsylvania, the
pregnancy rate is 58.3 per 1,000 females ages 15-19; and
Whereas, the negative effects of early parenthood on the
lifelong health, educational status, and financial condition
of adolescents are well documented and babies born to teenage
mothers are more prone to low birthweight and to have medical
and developmental problems, teenage pregnancy is a public
health issue of serious concern. Still, it is just one
symptom of the greater problem of teenage sexual activity
which carries many additional risk; and
Whereas, sexually transmitted diseases (STD's) some of
which can be easily cured but others of which can cause
permanent damage, infertility, death or harm to an unborn
child, continue to affect 3 million teenagers per year, a
solution that offers complete protection from these diseases
is needed; and,
Whereas, The emotional consequences of early sexual
activity can include anxiety, regret, decreased self-esteem,
confusion about intimacy and shattered dreams; and
Whereas, ``Safe sex'' is at best a relative concept since
even consistent, correct use of condoms can not guarantee
freedom from STD's or pregnancy and offers no protection from
the emotional consequences of intimacy without commitment;
and
Whereas, studies indicate a decrease in sexual activity
among teenagers in recent years, a recent study indicated
that 9 out 10 youths want help in saying ``no'' to sexual
pressure, and, abstinence programs designed for pre-teens and
teenagers record a clear reduction both in teen pregnancy
rates and teen sexual activity at large; and.
Whereas, the people of the state of Pennsylvania are
interested in the health and well being of youth, I recognize
that young people must be taught the risks of pre-marital
sexual activity, the benefits of abstinence prior to
marriage, and how to build healthy relationships on a solid
foundation. This indicates my belief in the strength and
character of the young people of this fine state.
Now, therefore, I Arlen Specter, United States Senator From
Pennsylvania, do hereby proclaim the week of March 18 to 24,
1996 to be Teen Pregnancy Prevention Week. I urge all
citizens to take part in activities and observances designed
to increase understanding of abstinence as the positive
solution to the problems of teenage pregnancy and its related
issues. This message is not one of mere prevention, but a
message of hope. At the local, state, and national levels, I
uphold and support the message of abstinence prior to
marriage as the healthy alternative for all Pennsylvanians.
In witness thereof, I have hereunto set my hand.
[[Page S3105]]
Mr. SPECTER. I thank the Chair. I yield the floor.
Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, on the basis that I mentioned earlier, I
suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mr. KERRY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for
the quorum call be rescinded.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
____________________