Abstinence-Only Education

Under the Bush Administration, federal support for “abstinence-only” education programs has expanded rapidly. The federal government will spend approximately $170 million on abstinence-only education programs in fiscal year 2005, more than twice the amount spent in fiscal year 2001. As a result, abstinence-only education, which promotes abstinence from sexual activity without teaching basic facts about contraception, now reaches millions of children and adolescents each year. In addition, the Administration has pushed to promote abstinence-only education programs in global HIV/AIDS prevention efforts. (Last Updated Feb. 9, 2005)

Latest News

Committee Holds Hearing Assessing the Evidence of Domestic Abstinence-Only Programs

The Committee held a hearing titled, “Domestic Abstinence-Only Programs: Assessing the Evidence” on Wednesday, April 23, 2008, in 2154 Rayburn House Office Building.

Members Question the Effectiveness of Youth Abstinence Programs

Today Chairman Waxman, Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Tom Lantos, and Congresswoman Barbara Lee reiterated their concern about the implementation of youth abstinence programs in the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). They requested detailed information about how the Administration intends to monitor the implementation of its policies and a description of all planned evaluations of the effectiveness of abstinence programs.

Rep. Waxman Questions HHS, CDC Censorship of Conference Session

In a letter to HHS Secretary Leavitt, Rep. Waxman asks why HHS and CDC censored a conference session critical of abstinence-only education in response to political pressure.

New Federally Funded Abstinence Program Guidelines Based on Ideology, Not Science

In a letter, Rep. Waxman calls on HHS Secretary Leavitt to retract new Community-Based Abstinence Education funding guidelines that are based on ideology, not public health.

Presidential Advisor Gives Misleading Comments about HHS Website

Rep. Waxman writes to Presidential Advisor Claude Allen regarding comments he made that incorrectly assert that inaccuracies on the 4parents.gov website have been fixed.

Rep. Waxman Requests GAO Review of National Abstinence Clearinghouse Contract

In a letter to GAO, Rep. Waxman raises concerns about possible ideological bias and financial conflicts of interest in a HHS funded review of abstinence-only curricula.

Experts: HHS Teen Health Website Inaccurate and Misleading

Update: In response to the expert reviews commissioned by Rep. Waxman, the Senate Appropriations Committee directed HHS to review the website, correct erroneous content, and to include more information about risks associated with alcohol and tobacco use.

AIDS Grant Awarded for "Non-Suitable" Proposal

A politically well connected organization that promotes abstinence education has received a major federal grant under the President’s AIDS program despite its proposal having been rated “not suitable for funding” by an independent review panel.

GAO Asked to Review Process for Determining Abstinence Program Accuracy

Rep. Waxman, joined by 19 other members of Congress, requests that GAO review HHS's processes for determining the accuracy and evaluating the effectiveness of "abstinence-only" education programs.

Federally Funded Abstinence-Only Programs Teach False And Misleading Information

A report released by Rep. Waxman shows that many federally funded abstinence-only education programs use curricula that distort information about the effectiveness of contraceptives, misrepresent the risks of abortion, blur religion and science, treat stereotypes about girls and boys as scientific fact, and contain basic scientific errors.

HHS May Use Audits to Harass Safe-Sex Groups

Rep. Waxman expresses continuing concern that HHS may be using audits to penalize groups who do not adhere to the Administration's abstinence-only approach to sex education.

Administration Promotes Unproven "Abstinence-Only" Policies

Rep. Waxman and 33 other members write HHS Secretary Thompson to protest a string of actions by the Administration to promote its unproven ‘abstinence-only’ policies on international HIV/AIDS prevention efforts.

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