American Civil Liberties Union

We are writing to urge you, as a member of the House Appropriations Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Subcommittee (Labor-HHS), to oppose any funding for abstinence-only-until-marriage programs.  As organizations committed to sound science and the health and welfare of our nation’s youth, we wish to express our profound concern regarding funding levels for abstinence-only-until-marriage programs appropriated through the Labor-HHS spending bill which your subcommittee is scheduled to mark up this week.  This bill includes two discretionary abstinence-only-until-marriage programs: the Community-Based Abstinence Education (CBAE) grant program and the Adolescent Family Life Act (AFLA).  The President’s FY’07 budget request proposed increasing funding for abstinence-only-until-marriage programs to $204 million—the entire $26 million increase is slated for the Community Based Abstinence Education (CBAE) account.

Close to $1 billion has been spent on abstinence-only-until-marriage programs since 1996.  Funding increases for these programs persist despite the fact that there is absolutely no evidence proving that they are effective.  To the contrary, evaluations prove that, at best, these programs are ineffective, and, at worst, they are harming young people through the provision of medically inaccurate information and the censorship of topics important to the health and well being of young people.

In light of recent research highlighting the lack of medical accuracy and ineffectiveness of these programs, we urge you to spend no more money on abstinence-only-until-marriage programs.

At a time when the Administration emphasizes accountability in funding only programs with demonstrated success, it is particularly inappropriate not only to continue but to increase funding for an unproven program.  The continued funding of unproven programs is especially troubling in a time when the Administration has sought to cut vital social services and proposes that other valuable and proven public health programs face the chopping block.  It is incumbent on Congress to reassess the funding level of these unproven programs, assert control over taxpayers’ dollars, and discontinue funding for abstinence-only-until-marriage programs. 

Given the current fiscal environment and the lack of evidence to support abstinence-only-until-marriage programs, we believe it would be fiscally irresponsible for Congress to spend any more taxpayer dollars on these programs.

To this end we urge you to dedicate funding from unproven abstinence-only-until-marriage programs to other worthwhile and chronically underfunded public health programs with proven results, such as programs that promote family planning, HIV prevention, and STD prevention, as well as those that support health and medical services for children. The nation’s taxpayers—and young people–deserve to see their hard earned tax dollars fund only programs that have been proven effective.

Sincerely,

9to5 Bay Area (CA)
9to5 Colorado
9to5, National Association of Working Women
9to5 Poverty Network Initiative - Wisconsin
ACLU of Alaska
ACLU of Vermont
Advocates for Youth
AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts, Inc.
AIDS Alliance for Children, Youth & Families
AIDS Foundation of Chicago (IL)
The AIDS Institute
AIDS Project Los Angeles  (CA)
AIDS Resource Alliance, Inc. (Williamsport, PA)
AIDS Services of Dallas (TX)
AIDS Taskforce of Greater Cleveland (OH)
AIDS Volunteers of Cincinnati (OH)
Alaska Pro-Choice Alliance
Alaska Women’s Lobby
Albany County AIDS Project (Laramie, WY)
Albany County Family Planning (Laramie, WY)
Alliance For Full Acceptance (Charleston, SC)
Alliance Medical Center (CA)
Alternatives to Marriage Project, Inc.
American Academy of HIV Medicine
American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, &
herapists (AASECT)
American Association of University Women (AAUW)
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
American College Health Association
American Humanist Association
American Public Health Association (APHA)
American Social Health Association (ASHA)
Americans for Religious Liberty
amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research
Arkansas NOW (National Organization for Women)
Association of Reproductive Health Professionals (ARHP)
Atlanta 9to5 (GA)
Backline
Barnert Temple Sisterhood (NJ)
Basic Rights Oregon
Brooklyn Pro-Choice Network (NY)
Business and Professional Women/AZ
California Church IMPACT
Catholics for a Free Choice
Center for Health and Gender Equity (CHANGE)
Center for HIV Law and Policy
Center for Reproductive Rights
Chicago Foundation for Women (IL)
Coalition for Positive Sexuality
Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive
Rights 
Community HIV/AIDS Mobilization Project (CHAMP)
Concerned Clergy For Choice (Albany, NY)
Congregation B’nai Jehoshua Beth Elohim (BJBE)
Sisterhood (Glenview, IL)
Cortland Coalition for Choice (NY)
DC Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy
Equality Illinois
Equality Maryland
Equality North Carolina
Family Health Council of Central Pennsylvania, Inc.
Family Planning Advocates of New York State
Family Planning Association of Maine
Family Planning Association of Northeast Ohio, Inc.
Family Planning Council (Philadelphia, PA)
Gay Men’s Health Crisis (GMHC)
The Georgia Podcast Network
Get the Facts NY
GLSEN -- the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network
Healthy Teen Network
HIV Medicine Association (Alexandria, VA)
Housing Works (NY)
Human Rights Campaign
Hyacinth AIDS Foundation of New Jersey
Idaho Women’s Network
Illinois Caucus for Adolescent Health
Illinois PTA
International Women’s Health Coalition
Kansas National Organization for Women (NOW)
L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center (CA)
Lake View High School Health Center (Chicago, IL)
Legal Momentum
Lifelong AIDS Alliance (Seattle, WA)
Living Room, Inc. (Atlanta, GA)
Maine Women’s Lobby
Marriage Equality RI
Mary Wohlford Foundation
The Massachusetts Alliance on Teen Pregnancy
McPherson County National Organization for Women (NOW) (KS)
Michigan Positive Action Coalition
Minnesota AIDS Project
Minnesota Organization on Adolescent Pregnancy, Prevention and
Parenting
Montana Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence
Morris County (NJ) NOW
Ms. Foundation for Women
NAMES Project Foundation, Central New Jersey Chapter
NARAL Pro-Choice America
NARAL Pro-Choice California
NARAL Pro-Choice Colorado
NARAL Pro-Choice Connecticut
NARAL Pro-Choice Iowa
NARAL Pro-Choice Missouri
NARAL Pro-Choice Montana
NARAL Pro-Choice New Hampshire
NARAL Pro-Choice North Carolina
NARAL Pro-Choice South Dakota
NARAL Pro-Choice Wisconsin & Foundation 
NARAL Pro-Choice Wyoming
National Abortion Federation (NAF)
National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO)
National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health
NPWH)
National Center for Transgender Equality
National Coalition of STD Directors
National Council of Jewish Women
National Council of Women’s Organizations
National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities
NICHCY)
National Education Association (NEA)
National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association
NFPRHA)
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
National Health Law Program
National Network of Abortion Funds (NNAF)
National Organization For Women (NOW)
National Partnership for Women & Families
National Women’s Law Center National Youth Advocacy Coalition
NYAC)
Needle Exchange Program of Asheville (NC)
New Jersey Chapter of Americans for Democratic Action
New Jersey Chapter, Sierra Club
New Mexico Coalition to Support Sexuality Education (NMCSSE)
New Mexico POZ Coalition
NJ HIV Over Fifty
North Shore Congregation Israel Sisterhood (Glencoe, IL)
Northeast Women’s Center (Philadelphia, PA)
Northern Adirondack Planned Parenthood, Inc. (NY)
Northwest Chicago Choice
Northwest Suburban Illinois NOW
Northwest Women’s Law Center (WA)
NYC AIDS Housing Network
Ohio AIDS Coalition
Our Bodies, Ourselves
Peer Health and Sexuality Education (PHASE) team, Young
Women’s Project
Pennsylvania NOW, Inc.
People For the American Way
PFLAG National (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and
Gays)
Philadelphia Women’s Center (PA)
Physicians for Reproductive Choice and Health
Pierce County AIDS Foundation (Tacoma, WA)
Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Delaware
Planned Parenthood Advocates of Indiana
Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California, Inc.
Planned Parenthood Affiliates of New Jersey
Planned Parenthood Association of the Mercer Area (NJ)
Planned Parenthood Association of Utah
Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA)
Planned Parenthood Golden Gate (CA)
Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts
Planned Parenthood Mar Monte (CA, NV)
Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota
Planned Parenthood of Alabama
Planned Parenthood of Alaska
Planned Parenthood of Arkansas and Eastern Oklahoma, Inc.
Planned Parenthood of Buffalo and Erie County, Inc. (NY)
Planned Parenthood of Central Pennsylvania
Planned Parenthood of Connecticut
Planned Parenthood of Delaware
Planned Parenthood of Greater Iowa
Planned Parenthood of Idaho
Planned Parenthood of Indiana
Planned Parenthood of Inland Northwest (WA)
Planned Parenthood of Mahoning Valley (OH)
Planned Parenthood of New Mexico, Inc.
Planned Parenthood of New York City (NY)
Planned Parenthood of Niagara County Inc. (NY)
Planned Parenthood of North Central Ohio
Planned Parenthood of North East Pennsylvania
Planned Parenthood of Northern New England (VT, ME, NH)
Planned Parenthood of Rhode Island
Planned Parenthood of the Rochester/Syracuse Region (NY)
Planned Parenthood of Santa Barbara, Ventura & San Luis Obispo
Counties, Inc. (CA)
Planned Parenthood of South Central Michigan
Planned Parenthood of South Central New York, Inc
Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida
Planned Parenthood of the Southern Finger Lakes (NY)
Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region (MO)
Planned Parenthood of the Susquehanna Valley (PA)
Planned Parenthood of the Texas Capital Region
Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin
Planned Parenthood Pennsylvania Advocates
Planned Parenthood Southwest Ohio Region
Planned Parenthood/Chicago Area (IL)
Population Connection
Pro-Choice Public Education Project (PEP)
PROMO (MO)
Protestants for the Common Good (Chicago, IL)
Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice
Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice of Connecticut, Inc.
Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice of Indiana
Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice of Maryland
Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice of Massachusetts
Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice of New Jersey
Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice of New Mexico
Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice of Northern California
Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice of Pennsylvania
Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice of West Virginia
Religious Institute on Sexual Morality, Justice, and Healing
Reproductive Health Technologies Project
Response Center (Skokie, IL)
Sexuality Information and Education Council of the U.S. (SIECUS)
Sierra Club
Sisterhood: Temple Anshe Sholom (Olympia Fields, IL)
Society for Adolescent Medicine
Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE)
The Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality
South Alabama CARES
Southwest Community Health Center (Santa Rosa, CA)
TII CANN - Title II Community AIDS National Network
The Teen Pregnancy Coalition of San Mateo County (CA)
Temple B’nai Israel Sisterhood (Oklahoma City, OK)
Temple Emanuel Sisterhood (Kingston, NY)
Temple Shalom Sisterhood (Dallas, TX)
Tri-State Alliance for Gays & Lesbians (IL, IN, KY)
Union for Reform Judaism
Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations
United Church of Christ, Justice and Witness Ministries
Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood (NY)
Voices For Planned Parenthood, University of Puget Sound (Tacoma,WA)
Western NC AIDS Project
Women of Reform Judaism
Women’s Coalition South Bay (Redondo Beach, CA)
Women’s Health Network
The Woodhull Freedom Federation
Wyoming Health Council
YWCA Metropolitan Chicago (IL)
YWCA USA