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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, Jan. 31, 2002 		Contact: HHS Press Office
(202) 690-6343

PRESIDENT'S BUDGET INCREASES ABSTINENCE PROGRAM FUNDING
Abstinence Request in Line With Teen Family Planning Money

President Bush's budget for 2003 will increase funding for abstinence education programs to $135 million to ensure that more children receive the message that abstinence is the best option for avoiding unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases, Secretary Tommy G. Thompson announced today.

The President's budget reflects a $33 million increase over 2002 funding for abstinence-only education, fulfilling the President's pledge to fund abstinence-only programs at $135 million.

"We are making unprecedented investments in teen abstinence education," Secretary Thompson said. "For the first time, the federal government has demonstrated its commitment to bringing equity to the message of abstinence and teen family-planning services."

Included in the budget request is $73 million for the Community-Based Abstinence Education program, which provides support to public and private groups for the development of abstinence education programs for adolescents in communities around the country.

The program targets planning and implementation of community-based, abstinence-only educational programs designed to reduce the proportion of adolescents who have engaged in premarital sexual activity, reduce the incidence of out-of-wedlock pregnancies among adolescents, and reduce the incidence of sexually transmitted disease.

The budget also includes $50 million in mandatory funding for abstinence education grants to 59 states and territories to provide mentoring, counseling and adult supervision to promote abstinence. It also includes $12 million through the Adolescent Family Life Program, administered by the Office of Population Affairs.

The budget also includes more targeted performance measures that will evaluate the effectiveness of the government's investment in abstinence programs.

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Note: All HHS press releases, fact sheets and other press materials are available at www.hhs.gov/news.

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Last revised: January 31, 2002