Responsible Education About Life Act
H.R. 1551/S. 611
The Problem
Currently, there are three federal funding streams for abstinence-only-until-marriage programs, but no source of federal dollars to support comprehensive sexuality education. Since 1996, Congress has spent almost $1.5 billion on abstinence-only programs, which are prohibited by law from discussing contraceptive use and which, by design, exclude lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth because marriage is unavailable to them in most parts of the country. Furthermore, numerous studies have demonstrated that they are inaccurate and ineffective. For example, a 2007 study conducted for the Department of Health and Human Services by an independent research firm found that youth who participated in abstinence-only programs are no more likely to abstain from sex, delay sex, delay initiation of sex, or have fewer sexual partners than youth who receive no sex education at all.
What is the Responsible Education About Life Act?
The Responsible Education About Life Act (REAL) would provide grants to states for the purpose of conducting comprehensive sexuality education programs. Among the requirements for a program funded under REAL are that it be age-appropriate and medically accurate, stress abstinence as the only sure way to avoid pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, and provide information about the health benefits and side effects of all contraceptives. REAL would ensure that taxpayer dollars are used appropriately by requiring evaluation of all programs receiving grant money by both the Secretary of Health and Human Services and individual states.
Public Opinion and Public Health Expertise
A vast majority of adults support comprehensive sexuality education and believe young people should be given information about how to protect themselves from unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases. In a 2003 poll conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation, only 15% of parents supported abstinence-only education in schools.
Furthermore, respected public health experts such as the Institute of Medicine, American Academy of Pediatrics and American Medical Association all oppose government funding for abstinence-only programs on the grounds that they are ineffective and fail to give youth the tools they need to make responsible decisions.
What is the Current Status of the Bill?
In the 110th Congress, REAL was introduced by Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) in the Senate and Representative Barbara Lee (D-CA) in the House. It had 19 co-sponsors in the Senate and 111 co-sponsors in the House.
For more information, please contact legislation@hrc.org.
Last Updated: Tuesday, February 17, 2009