[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 156 (Sunday, September 28, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2119-E2120]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     SUPPORT FOR REAL SEX EDUCATION

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. HILDA L. SOLIS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Saturday, September 27, 2008

  Ms. SOLIS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my strong support 
for real sexual education. In my home state of California, sexual 
health education taught in public schools must be medically accurate, 
bias-free, and age appropriate. Comprehensive sex education is needed 
to truly address the rise in sexually transmitted infections and the 
rise in teenage pregnancies among communities of color.
  I am working to reduce teen pregnancy in the Latino community, 
Despite the arguments of the current administration, abstinence-only 
education has not proven to be effective. For the first time in 15 
years, teen birth rates are increasing in the United States. Fifty-
three percent of Latina teens become pregnant at least once before age 
20. These appalling statistics are why I introduced H.R. 468, the 
Communities of Color Teen Pregnancy Prevention Act. This legislation 
would provide additional funding to support teen pregnancy prevention 
efforts in our communities and schools and for research about teen 
pregnancy in at-risk communities.
  We need to protect the future of our children by committing to 
providing comprehensive, medically accurate sex education. I am proud 
that several Planned Parenthood centers are located in my district in 
the San Gabriel Valley. I know that many of my constituents rely on 
health information from Planned Parenthood clinics such as the EI Monte 
Medical Center and East Los Angeles Medical Center.
  Recently, I invited Andreina Cordova, a teenage Planned Parenthood 
peer advocate in Los Angeles, to discuss her work with the Ujima 
program at the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Public Policy Conference. 
I was impressed by her commitment to provide sexual health information 
and promote responsible behavior among teens.
  I also strongly support the efforts of Planned Parenthood's 
successful promotoras program. Promotoras visit schools, homes and 
community centers to educate families about reproductive health and 
teen pregnancy prevention. We need to provide comprehensive sex 
education in schools instead of wasting valuable dollars on ineffective 
abstinence-only programs. Some states agree. In fact, California is one 
of few states in our country that rejects federal abstinence-only sex 
education funding

[[Page E2120]]

in order to provide students with accurate comprehensive sex education.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support comprehensive, 
medically accurate sex education so that we can reduce the number of 
teenage pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections. I look forward 
to working with a new administration to ensure that our younger 
generations will be provided with real, medically accurate sexual 
health information.

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