Maybe it was towering piles of evidence attesting to the fact that virginity pledges don’t work, but whatever it was, Congress declined to add more funds to abstinence-until-marriage programs. (Via Salon.)


Planned Parenthood’s Take on the News:

Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) today applauded House Appropriations Committee members who showed they valued the health and safety of America’s teens by refusing to dramatically increase funding for abstinence-only-until-marriage programs. Abstinence-only programs deny teenagers medically accurate information about birth control and about preventing sexually transmitted infections. Studies have shown that teens who participate in abstinence-only programs are less likely to use contraception when they become sexually active than peers who receive medically accurate sex education.

“More than anything, parents want their teens to be safe and healthy. Abstinence-only programs keep teens in the dark and do nothing to help parents protect their children’s health,” said PPFA President Cecile Richards.

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