[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 137 (Friday, October 12, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1878]
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, 2002

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. HILDA L. SOLIS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 11, 2001

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 3061) making 
     appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human 
     Services, and Education, and related agencies for the fiscal 
     year ending September 30, 2002, and for other purposes:

  Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to voice my opposition to 
Congressman Istook's amendment to the Labor, Health, Human Services and 
Education Appropriations bill.
  I am concerned with Congressman Istook's proposal to increase the 
abstinence-until-marriage education program by $33 million.
  Although I believe that educating teenagers about sexual abstinence 
can be beneficial it cannot be the course of sexual education.
  There is no substantive evidence that shows that abstinence-only 
education is effective.
  Instead, research repeatedly shows that the most effective route to 
combat teenage pregnancy is a comprehensive sexual education program.
  In my community, the Latino community, an abstinence-only lifestyle 
is preached in most households.
  Young Latinas are repeatedly told that if they have sex outside of 
marriage or become pregnant, they will be cut off from their families.
  However, 13 percent of Hispanic women in the United States aged 15-19 
still become pregnant each year.
  Teenagers are sexually active; therefore they should know about the 
family planning methods available.
  In fact, each year, family planning services prevent about 386,000 
teenage pregnancies.
  While I am pleased that Congressman Istook's amendment does not draw 
any funding away from the much-need Title X family planning program, I 
still cannot support such a large funding increase for a program that 
is so limited in scope and whose effectiveness has yet to be 
determined.
  I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment.

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