Abstinence-Only Funding Zeroed Out In Obama Budget

DeGette and Slaughter Applaud Move

WASHINGTON – Bi-partisan Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus Co-Chairs Diana DeGette (D-CO), Vice Chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and Louise M. Slaughter (D-NY), Chairwoman of the House Committee on Rules, today lauded President Obama's inclusion of evidence-based teen pregnancy prevention programs and elimination of failed abstinence education programs in his budget proposal.

"Eliminating funding for ineffective abstinence-only programs is a win for science," said DeGette. "The Obama budget proposal invests in programs that are effective and based on sound science, rather than wasting millions of dollars on efforts that have been proven to be ineffective at best. This budget underscores the President's commitment to science, and I look forward to working with the White House and House leadership to ensure that Congress supports his efforts."

"For too long we wasted money on programs that are proven to be ineffective. We are finally putting sound science ahead of politics," said Slaughter. "We have an obligation to our young women and men to empower them to make informed decisions about their own sexual health."

The President's budget includes funding "for teenage pregnancy prevention programs that have been proven effective through rigorous evaluation." Language can be found on pages 490 to 495 of the budget appendix.