[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 14 (Thursday, February 10, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1305-S1307]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. LAUTENBERG (for himself, Mr. Kennedy, and Mrs. Murray):
  S. 368. A bill to provide assistance to reduce teen pregnancy, HIV/
AIDS, and other sexually transmitted diseases and to support healthy 
adolescent development; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, 
and Pensions.
  Mr. LAUTENBERG. Mr. President, I rise to introduce the Responsible 
Education About Life or ``REAL'' Act along with my cosponsors Senators 
Kennedy, and Mrs. Murray.
  The REAL Act aims to reduce adolescent pregnancy, HIV rates, and 
other sexually transmitted diseases, by providing federal funds for 
comprehensive sex education in schools. Comprehensive sex education is 
medically accurate, age appropriate, education that includes 
information about both contraception and abstinence. It is an approach 
that doesn't hide important information from our kids.
  For years, taxpayer dollars have been flooded into unproven 
``abstinence-only'' programs--while no federal program is dedicated to 
comprehensive sex education. Under the Bush Administration, federal 
support for ``abstinence-only'' education has expanded rapidly.
  The proof is in the numbers. In fiscal year 2004 the federal 
government spent $138 million dollars on ``abstinence only'' programs. 
In fiscal year 2005 the federal government increased funding for these 
programs by $30 million dollars. This year President Bush is asking for 
$206 million dollars for ``abstinence only'' education--a 50 percent 
increase over the 2004 funding level. Would you like to know how much 
money has the government devoted to comprehensive sex education 
programs over this same time? Zero dollars.
  Much of the taxpayer funds going to ``abstinence-only'' programs are 
essentially being wasted. Teens need information, not censorship. 
``Abstinence-only'' education only tells young people half the story, 
and they need the full picture. These programs are not getting the job 
done.

[[Page S1306]]

  After years of ``abstinence only'' programs, the United States still 
has the--highest rates of teen pregnancy in the industrialized world. 
The American public knows what works. Parents do not want sexual 
education programs limited to abstinence in schools. Even the Heritage 
Foundation had to admit this when their own poll showed that ``75 
percent of parents want teens to be taught about both abstinence and 
contraception.'' Other polls show numbers as high as 93 percent in 
support of high school programs that include information about 
contraception.
  The REAL Act also has the support of the National Education 
Association (NEA), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the 
American Nurses Association (ANA), the Child Welfare League of America 
and more than 130 other medical and professional organizations. It is a 
fact that teenagers who receive sex education that includes discussion 
of contraception are more likely to delay sexual activity than those 
who receive abstinence-only education. Comprehensive sex education 
simply works better.
  The stakes are high: of the 19 million cases of sexually transmitted 
diseases every year in the United States, almost half of them strike 
young people between the ages of 15 and 24. And each year in the United 
States, about 20,000 young people are newly infected with HIV.
  These aren't just numbers. These are our sons and daughters whose 
health and well-being are jeopardized when ideology comes before sound 
public policy. That is why we are introducing this legislation today. 
It's time for a more balanced approach; it's time to protect out kids, 
and it's time to get REAL. Our bill authorizes $206 million per year in 
federal funds to states for comprehensive sexual education programs.
  The REAL Act is step in a more effective direction. It brings sex 
education up-to-date in a way that will reflect the serious issues and 
real life situations millions of young people find themselves in every 
year. Young people have a right to accurate and complete information 
that could protect their health and even save their lives. I urge my 
colleagues to support the REAL Act and make it possible to give young 
people the tools to make safe and responsible decisions. Mr. President, 
I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                 S. 368

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Responsible Education About 
     Life Act''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       The Congress finds as follows:
       (1) The American Medical Association (``AMA''), the 
     American Nurses Association (``ANA''), the American Academy 
     of Pediatrics (``AAP''), the American College of 
     Obstetricians and Gynecologists (``ACOG''), the American 
     Public Health Association (``APHA''), and the Society of 
     Adolescent Medicine (``SAM''), support responsible sexuality 
     education that includes information about both abstinence and 
     contraception.
       (2) Recent scientific reports by the Institute of Medicine, 
     the American Medical Association and the Office on National 
     AIDS Policy stress the need for sexuality education that 
     includes messages about abstinence and provides young people 
     with information about contraception for the prevention of 
     teen pregnancy, HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted 
     diseases (``STDs'').
       (3) Research shows that teenagers who receive sexuality 
     education that includes discussion of contraception are more 
     likely than those who receive abstinence-only messages to 
     delay sexual activity and to use contraceptives when they do 
     become sexually active.
       (4) Comprehensive sexuality education programs respect the 
     diversity of values and beliefs represented in the community 
     and will complement and augment the sexuality education 
     children receive from their families.
       (5) The median age of puberty is 13 years and the average 
     age of marriage is over 26 years old. American teens need 
     access to full, complete, and medically and factually 
     accurate information regarding sexuality, including 
     contraception, STD/HIV prevention, and abstinence.
       (6) Although teen pregnancy rates are decreasing, there are 
     still between 750,000 and 850,000 teen pregnancies each year. 
     Between 75 and 90 percent of teen pregnancies among 15- to 
     19-year olds are unintended.
       (7) Studies estimate that 50 to 75 percent of the reduction 
     in adolescent pregnancy rates is attributable to improved 
     contraceptive use; the remainder to increased abstinence.
       (8) More than eight out of ten Americans believe that young 
     people should have information about abstinence and 
     protecting themselves from unplanned pregnancies and sexually 
     transmitted diseases.
       (9) United States teens and young adults acquire an 
     estimated 4,000,000 sexually transmitted infections each 
     year. By age 25, at least 1 of every 2 sexually active people 
     will have contracted a sexually transmitted disease.
       (10) More than 2 young people in the United States are 
     infected with HIV every hour of every day. African American 
     and Hispanic youth have been disproportionately affected by 
     the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Although about 15 percent of the 
     adolescent population (ages 13 to 19) in the United States is 
     African American, nearly 60 percent of AIDS cases through 
     2002 among 13- to 19-year olds were among African Americans. 
     Hispanics comprise nearly 16 percent of the adolescent 
     population (ages 13 to 19) in the United States and 22 
     percent of reported adolescent AIDS cases through June 2002.

     SEC. 3. ASSISTANCE TO REDUCE TEEN PREGNANCY, HIV/AIDS, AND 
                   OTHER SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES AND TO 
                   SUPPORT HEALTHY ADOLESCENT DEVELOPMENT.

       (a) In General.--Each eligible State shall be entitled to 
     receive from the Secretary of Health and Human Services, for 
     each of the fiscal years 2006 through 2010, a grant to 
     conduct programs of family life education, including 
     education on both abstinence and contraception for the 
     prevention of teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted 
     diseases, including HIV/AIDS.
       (b) Requirements for Family Life Programs.--For purposes of 
     this Act, a program of family life education is a program 
     that--
       (1) is age-appropriate and medically accurate;
       (2) does not teach or promote religion;
       (3) teaches that abstinence is the only sure way to avoid 
     pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases;
       (4) stresses the value of abstinence while not ignoring 
     those young people who have had or are having sexual 
     intercourse;
       (5) provides information about the health benefits and side 
     effects of all contraceptives and barrier methods as a means 
     to prevent pregnancy;
       (6) provides information about the health benefits and side 
     effects of all contraceptives and barrier methods as a means 
     to reduce the risk of contracting sexually transmitted 
     diseases, including HIV/AIDS;
       (7) encourages family communication about sexuality between 
     parent and child;
       (8) teaches young people the skills to make responsible 
     decisions about sexuality, including how to avoid unwanted 
     verbal, physical, and sexual advances and how not to make 
     unwanted verbal, physical, and sexual advances; and
       (9) teaches young people how alcohol and drug use can 
     affect responsible decisionmaking.
       (c) Additional Activities.--In carrying out a program of 
     family life education, a State may expend a grant under 
     subsection (a) to carry out educational and motivational 
     activities that help young people--
       (1) gain knowledge about the physical, emotional, 
     biological, and hormonal changes of adolescence and 
     subsequent stages of human maturation;
       (2) develop the knowledge and skills necessary to ensure 
     and protect their sexual and reproductive health from 
     unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease, 
     including HIV/AIDS throughout their lifespan;
       (3) gain knowledge about the specific involvement of and 
     male responsibility in sexual decisionmaking;
       (4) develop healthy attitudes and values about adolescent 
     growth and development, body image, gender roles, racial and 
     ethnic diversity, sexual orientation, and other subjects;
       (5) develop and practice healthy life skills including 
     goal-setting, decisionmaking, negotiation, communication, and 
     stress management;
       (6) promote self-esteem and positive interpersonal skills 
     focusing on relationship dynamics, including, but not limited 
     to, friendships, dating, romantic involvement, marriage and 
     family interactions; and
       (7) prepare for the adult world by focusing on educational 
     and career success, including developing skills for 
     employment preparation, job seeking, independent living, 
     financial self-sufficiency, and workplace productivity.

     SEC. 4. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

       It is the sense of Congress that while States are not 
     required to provide matching funds, they are encouraged to do 
     so.

     SEC. 5. EVALUATION OF PROGRAMS.

       (a) In General.--For the purpose of evaluating the 
     effectiveness of programs of family life education carried 
     out with a grant under section 3, evaluations of such program 
     shall be carried out in accordance with subsections (b) and 
     (c).
       (b) National Evaluation.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary shall provide for a national 
     evaluation of a representative sample of programs of family 
     life education carried out with grants under section 3. A 
     condition for the receipt of such a grant is that the State 
     involved agree to cooperate with the evaluation. The purposes 
     of the national evaluation shall be the determination of--

[[Page S1307]]

       (A) the effectiveness of such programs in helping to delay 
     the initiation of sexual intercourse and other high-risk 
     behaviors;
       (B) the effectiveness of such programs in preventing 
     adolescent pregnancy;
       (C) the effectiveness of such programs in preventing 
     sexually transmitted disease, including HIV/AIDS;
       (D) the effectiveness of such programs in increasing 
     contraceptive knowledge and contraceptive behaviors when 
     sexual intercourse occurs; and
       (E) a list of best practices based upon essential 
     programmatic components of evaluated programs that have led 
     to success in subparagraphs (A) through (D).
       (2) Report.--A report providing the results of the national 
     evaluation under paragraph (1) shall be submitted to the 
     Congress not later than March 31, 2009, with an interim 
     report provided on a yearly basis at the end of each fiscal 
     year.
       (c) Individual State Evaluations.--
       (1) In general.--A condition for the receipt of a grant 
     under section 3 is that the State involved agree to provide 
     for the evaluation of the programs of family education 
     carried out with the grant in accordance with the following:
       (A) The evaluation will be conducted by an external, 
     independent entity.
       (B) The purposes of the evaluation will be the 
     determination of--
       (i) the effectiveness of such programs in helping to delay 
     the initiation of sexual intercourse and other high-risk 
     behaviors;
       (ii) the effectiveness of such programs in preventing 
     adolescent pregnancy;
       (iii) the effectiveness of such programs in preventing 
     sexually transmitted disease, including HIV/AIDS; and
       (iv) the effectiveness of such programs in increasing 
     contraceptive knowledge and contraceptive behaviors when 
     sexual intercourse occurs.
       (2) Use of grant.--A condition for the receipt of a grant 
     under section 3 is that the State involved agree that not 
     more than 10 percent of the grant will be expended for the 
     evaluation under paragraph (1).

     SEC. 6. DEFINITIONS.

       For purposes of this Act:
       (1) The term ``eligible State'' means a State that submits 
     to the Secretary an application for a grant under section 3 
     that is in such form, is made in such manner, and contains 
     such agreements, assurances, and information as the Secretary 
     determines to be necessary to carry out this Act.
       (2) The term ``HIV/AIDS'' means the human immunodeficiency 
     virus, and includes acquired immune deficiency syndrome.
       (3) The term ``medically accurate'', with respect to 
     information, means information that is supported by research, 
     recognized as accurate and objective by leading medical, 
     psychological, psychiatric, and public health organizations 
     and agencies, and where relevant, published in peer review 
     journals.
       (4) The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Health 
     and Human Services.

     SEC. 7. APPROPRIATIONS.

       (a) In General.--For the purpose of carrying out this Act, 
     there is authorized to be appropriated $206,000,000 for each 
     of fiscal years 2006 through 2010.
       (b) Allocations.--Of the amounts appropriated under 
     subsection (a) for a fiscal year--
       (1) not more than 7 percent may be used for the 
     administrative expenses of the Secretary in carrying out this 
     Act for that fiscal year; and
       (2) not more than 10 percent may be used for the national 
     evaluation under section 5(b).

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