[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.

                          ____________________