[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 66 (Thursday, May 21, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H3737]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    TEEN PREGNANCY PREVENTION MONTH

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from North Carolina is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mrs. CLAYTON. Mr. Speaker, the month of May is Teen Pregnancy 
Prevention Month.
  Teen pregnancy is a condition that can be prevented. But prevention 
is difficult for most Americans.
  Parents must stop thinking that we cannot talk about sexual topics 
until children are older because kids are too young or will be too 
embarrassed.
  Conversations need to start early because teens start early, TV 
starts early, and society starts early.
  It is easier to find televised debates on abortion, gun control or 
affirmative action than it is to find a discussion about teen pregnancy 
prevention.
  Our society likes issues that can be squeezed into ideological 
formats between commercial breaks. For many years the teen pregnancy 
prevention debate fit nicely into that televised ideological format.
  There is no easy answer. Abstinence only was held by some. Abstinence 
is indeed the first and the best position for teens. Others thought 
contraceptive education was the major answer.
  While this debate went on, in the late 1980s and early 1990s, the 
pregnancy rates continued to rise and people on both sides of this 
debate grew weary.
  Many thoughtful leaders engaged and developed new programs that 
combine strong emphasis on abstinence, especially for teen 16 and 
younger, with counseling on contraception.
  Teens need the knowledge and skills to avoid sex if they are not 
ready . . . they need to know that it is okay to say no.
  And teens who are sexually active need knowledge on how to use 
contraception to avoid pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.
  Recent studies confirm that it is important for teens to hear both 
messages . . . abstinence and contraception . . . which is known as a 
dual message.
  The idea is that teaching clear values is essential to helping teens 
avoid early sexual activity and pregnancy; but contraceptive advise is 
needed as a backup.
  I agree with University of Maryland professor William Galston who 
said: ``contraceptive technique without values gets you no where, but 
values without a safety net is a risky business.''
  According to the May 1, 1998 report just released, by the U.S. 
Department of Health and Human Services, teen birth rates declined 
substantially nationwide between 1991 and 1996.
  These recent declines reverse the 24 percent rise in the teen birth 
rate from 1986 through 1991. The report, which focused sole on teenage 
childbearing, between 1991 and 1996, reveals that teen birth rates 
declined for white, black, American Indian, Asian or Pacific Islander 
and Hispanic women between ages 15 and 19.
  The latest state by state data, from 1995 shows that teen birth rates 
have declined in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
  The preliminary U.S. teen birth rate for 1996 was down 4 percent from 
1995 and 12 percent from 1991.
  This shows that our concerted effort to reduce teen pregnancy is 
succeeding.
  The federal government, the National Campaign to Prevent Teen 
pregnancy, the private sector, parents and caregivers are all helping 
send the same message:
  Don't become a parent until you are truly ready to support a child.
  However, teen birth rates are higher today than in the mid 1980s, 
when the rate was at its lowest point.
  It is critical that our nation continue to take a clear stand against 
teen pregnancy.
  We have to instill in the total population that this is a problem to 
be solved by the whole community.
  Mr. Speaker, we must all be engaged in this effort.

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