[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 178 (Thursday, December 20, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2371-E2372]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      ON THE INTRODUCTION OF LEGISLATION TO PREVENT TEEN PREGNANCY

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JANE HARMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 20, 2001

  Ms. HARMAN. Mr. Speaker, today, with my colleague Nancy Pelosi, I am 
pleased to introduce legislation today to strengthen our nation's 
commitment to preventing teen pregnancy.
  The United States has the highest rates of teen pregnancy and births 
in the western industrialized world. Nearly four in 10 young

[[Page E2372]]

women become pregnant at least once before they reach the age of 20--
one million a year.
  This is a problem that has a devastating impact on California as a 
whole (which has the second worst teen pregnancy rate in the nation) 
and Hispanic teenagers in particular, who have the highest rates of 
teen pregnancy of any ethnic group. The cost to the United States in 
health care and education alone is at least $7 billion annually, and 
the human cost in dreams deferred and children with limited 
opportunities is immeasurable. Reducing unwanted pregnancies also 
reduces the number of abortions.
  We must act now to build on the success of existing programs that 
have helped reduce teen pregnancy rates nationwide so that we may 
ensure young women and men have the information and confidence they 
need to make wise choices about their sexual behavior.
  The approach of our legislation is very straightforward: fund 
programs that work.
  Over the past decade, a wide variety of teen pregnancy prevention 
programs have shown dramatic results in delaying teenagers' sexual 
activity, promoting the safe use of contraceptives, and reducing teen 
pregnancy. These programs don't fit a particular model: some provide 
comprehensive sex and HIV education, some provide information on and 
access to contraception, some provide economic or service opportunities 
to youth. Some use media campaigns, some intervention and counseling, 
and some youth development programs.
  Successful education programs do, however, all share a common 
feature: they deliver the message that abstaining from sexual activity 
is the only 100 percent effective way to prevent teen pregnancy, but 
recognizing that teens will not always abstain from sex, also provide 
accurate information on contraception and other means to prevent 
pregnancy.
  The grant program authorized by the bill we introduce today targets 
new funding at high-risk communities and groups, and allows a wide 
range of organizations--from local coalitions to State agencies--to 
apply for funds.
  This bill represents an effective and proven way to move forward on 
teen pregnancy prevention. The program will fund diverse teen pregnancy 
prevention programs, so long as they are based on methods and programs 
that work.
  This legislation is a win-win deal for teens, their families, and 
their communities across the nation, and I urge all of my colleague to 
support it.

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