[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 49 (Wednesday, April 17, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H3554-H3555]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             THE NATIONAL CAMPAIGN TO REDUCE TEEN PREGNANCY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from Florida [Mrs. Thurman] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mrs. THURMAN. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentlewoman from 
North Carolina for organizing tonight's special orders. I would also 
like to commend her for her leadership in urging Members to become more 
actively involved in President Clinton's National Campaign To Reduce 
Teen Pregnancy.
  First, we must face a distressing reality. More and more teens in our 
Nation are getting pregnant every year. Births to mothers under the age 
of 18 are on the rise, and we must work together to address this 
crisis.
  The statistics in my home State of Florida are disturbing. Florida 
ranks 10th in the Nation in births to children aged 10 to 14 and 16th 
for teens between the ages of 15 to 19. Even more disheartening is the 
fact that of Florida's 17,641 teen births in 1994, almost 1 in 5 were 
repeat pregnancies.
  Yes--these figures are alarming. However, there is hope. In fact, 
some promising programs in my district have demonstrated success in 
preventing teen pregnancy. Tonight, I would like to highlight these 
successful programs--programs which offer preventive strategies to 
solve the dilemma of teen pregnancy. Rather than continue the punitive 
approach Congress has taken with the welfare debate, citizens in my 
district are taking positive action.

[[Page H3555]]

  I am very excited that almost every county in my district has 
established a teen pregnancy task force. Made up of a cross-section of 
the community--teachers, public health nurses, parents, teens, and 
representatives from local civic groups and organizations--the task 
forces work together to increase awareness and education.
  Let me tell you about the effective programs in my district. In 
Alachua County, for example, Planned Parenthood of North Central 
Florida has teamed up with the Alachua County Public Health Unit to 
develop an exciting pilot program called Planned Parenthood ``in the 
``Hood.''

  Although just 4 years old, this wonderful program is an excellent 
example of the unique partnerships which can be formed when the entire 
community works together to tackle a program. ``In the 'Hood'' has 
begun to conquer the obstacles that teens typically face when 
attempting to use traditional health care services.
  ``In the 'Hood's'' approach is unique because teens deal with one 
personal counselor throughout their ordeal, not just a faceless voice 
at the other end of a telephone line. Through home visits, one-on-one 
counseling, and follow-up with teens, ``In the 'Hood'' has become a 
model of innovative community dedication. Through active involvement 
and personal contact with teens, the ``In the 'Hood'' counselor has 
become both a role model and mentor for teens who have been fortunate 
enough to participate in this program.
  More importantly, the program works. In 1994, of those teens who 
participated in this program, only 12.5 percent became pregnant for the 
first time, while 61 percent of those who participated in traditional 
programs had first-time pregnancies.
  One of the most troubling realities associated with adolescent 
pregnancy is what comes after the birth of the child. Inevitably, many 
children who have children don't finish school. Therefore, they have 
limited job prospects, reduced earning capacity, and, in the end, often 
depend of public welfare to make ends meet.
  Before coming to Congress, I taught middle-school math in Dunnellon, 
FL. I have seen the tragedy of promising young students becoming 
pregnant and dropping out of school--abandoning their dreams of college 
and a successful future. I know it makes sense for schools to emphasize 
pregnancy prevention in their curriculum to prevent this tremendous 
waste of potential.

  Citrus County, in a collaborative effort between its Public Health 
Unit and School Board, is doing just that. As 1 of 11 pilot sites in 
Florida to receive what is known as an Education Now and Babies Later 
grant, [ENABL], Citrus County has been able to participate in Postpone 
Sexual Involvement, a multifaceted program designed to get to the heart 
of the teen pregnancy problem.
  The Postpone Sexual Involvement Program begins with direct education 
of 5th and 6th graders, with major emphasis placed on abstinence. 
Through the program's curriculum, young people are taught both the 
consequences of early pregnancy and how to deal with peer pressure; it 
teaches them confidence so that they can say ``no'' to sexual 
involvement and have their ``no'' accepted. This program also involves 
parents by creating a curriculum that gives parents the tools necessary 
to discuss candidly the issue of sex and the need to postpone sexual 
involvement.
  In addition to the many successful programs I have already mentioned, 
this discussion would be incomplete without a reference to a very 
successful teen parenting program in Pasco County. During my tenure in 
the Florida Senate, I became actively involved in the Youth and Family 
Alternatives Teen Parenting Program. This program is designed to 
provide pregnant adolescents the education and support they need. 
Through home visits, this program aims at assisting, supporting and 
educating young mothers during and after their pregnancies.
  Mr. Speaker, in all of the successful programs I have been involved 
with, the key to their success has been getting the whole community 
involved: students, parents, teachers, churches and Government. This 
makes sense. Teen pregnancy is a problem for an entire community, not 
just one woman, or one family. We must continue to work together to 
solve this terrible problem. I am delighted we have the opportunity 
tonight to take an important step in this positive direction.
  I have lots more I could say, Mr. Speaker. I hopefully will have an 
opportunity to continue this as time goes on. I have much more that I 
could offer than just in 5 minutes.

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