[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 70 (Friday, May 14, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E980]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   IN RECOGNITION OF MAY AS NATIONAL TEEN PREGNANCY PREVENTION MONTH

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                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, May 14, 1999

  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to address a subject I feel very 
passionate about; teen pregnancy prevention. When my colleague the 
gentle lady from North Carolina, Ms. Clayton called my office about 
participating in an effort to speak on this critically important topic 
I jumped at the opportunity.
  As a member of the House Advisory Panel to the National Campaign to 
Prevent Teen Pregnancy I feel a strong responsibility to address this 
national problem. In dealing with the problem of teen pregnancy in the 
United States, it has always been my philosphy that we must deal with 
both the young women and the young men in these relationships. I 
realize that reproductive technology has gone far, but I believe we 
will need both women and men to make children. Many programs deal 
primarily with the young women and their children and do not emphasize 
the responsibility that young men should be taking in these 
relationships. We should focus on both parties in dealing with the 
problem of unplanned teen pregnancies.
  We need to develop comprehensive plans to deal with this issue, 
plans, which include both young women and men in the solution of the 
problem. There also needs to be in place not only comprehensive 
programs, but we in Washington need to allocate the necessary monies 
for these programs to be successful. We know prevention programs work, 
and we need to continue to support them in their mission. The resources 
and programs should also be focused on areas, which have the highest 
rates of teen pregnancy.
  Mr. Speaker and my colleagues from both sides of the aisle please 
join me in recognizing the month of May as ``Teen Pregnancy Prevention 
Month'' and let's join together to fight this national problem.

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