[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 116 (Friday, September 5, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1677-E1678]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  DEPARTMENTS OF LABOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND EDUCATION, AND 
               RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 1998

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. SUE W. KELLY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 4, 1997

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 2264) making 
     appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human 
     Services, and Education, and related agencies for the fiscal 
     year ending September 30, 1998, and for other purposes:

  Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong opposition to the 
Istook amendment and in support of the Porter substitute.

[[Page E1678]]

  This legislative body needs to wake up and realize that, whether we 
like it or not, teens across America from all types of families--
dysfunctional and solid--are having sex. Now, do we ignore the facts in 
adherence to our utopian principles of parental guidance and abstinence 
sacrificing our children and their future in the process? Or do we 
accept the facts and work to educate our children in hopes of 
encouraging abstinence, preventing devastating sexually transmitted 
diseases, preventing abortion, and preventing unintended pregnancies
  There is another fact being overlooked here as well. Family planning 
clinics already are required to encourage teens to talk with their 
parents about reproductive health issues--but guess what--some parents 
aren't talking. In fact, some parents treat sex as such a taboo that 
their children are left to learn on their own with no guidance at all, 
when poor decisions can prove deadly. Other parents are abusive, 
leaving teens to take care of themselves. This is not a perfect world.
  Members in favor of the Istook amendment cite a tragedy in Illinois 
where a 37-year-old teacher took a 13-year-old student, with whom he 
was having a sexual relationship, to a federally funded clinic for 
contraceptives. This is indeed a tragedy and that teacher needs to be 
put away for a very long time. But to claim that his relationship is 
the result of the existence of title X clinics is dishonest and 
misleading.
  This relationship was going on prior to their visit to a title X 
clinic and, had the girl disclosed that her partner was an adult 
authority figure, by law he would have been reported. This crime was 
committed by this perverted teacher, not the family planning clinic.
  I do not stand here today to trivialize the seriousness of this 
appalling case. In fact, the substitute amendment being offered by 
Chairman Porter requires that clinics provide counseling to minors in 
recognizing and resisting attempts of coercion by their partners.
   Please open your eyes and support the Porter substitute. It is a 
matter of health. Don't let unrealistic ideology sacrifice the futures 
of our children.

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