Statement of Congressman John D. Dingell, Chairman
Committee on Energy and Commerce

FLOOR STATEMENT OF THE
HONORABLE JOHN D. DINGELL

September 26, 2007

Rep. John D. Dingell (D-MI), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, delivered the following statement on the House floor today regarding a three-month reauthorization of the Title V abstinence-only education allotted by H.R. 3668:

I would like to speak briefly about the provision of this legislation which provides for a three month reauthorization of the Title V abstinence-only education block grant program.

On August 1st of this year, the House of Representatives passed legislation which made significant and responsible changes to the abstinence-only education programs. The House-passed legislation would have provided states with the flexibility to offer programs best suited to the needs and desires of their citizens and it would have ensured that federal funds were being spent on effective programs that provide medically accurate information.

Sadly, those changes are not incorporated into the bill before us today because opponents of the House-passed abstinence language decided to hold hostage the important reauthorizations of TMA and Q1, in an effort to ensure that no improvements were made to the discredited abstinence-only programs.

Because it is absolutely necessary that we reauthorize TMA and Q1, the abstinence-only education changes were sacrificed … for now. Let me be clear: I am dismayed that the House-passed abstinence-only language was omitted from this legislation and I will continue to fight for those important, responsible, and necessary changes in the coming months.