We need your help to make sure that programs that help prevent teen and unplanned pregnancy are adequately funded next year!
A subcommittee of the Senate Appropriations Committees is poised to take action on the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (aka "Labor-H”) bill this week. Let them know that funding for teen and unplanned pregnancy prevention are a priority TODAY.
The President proposed $129 million for the Office of Adolescent Health’s Teenage Pregnancy Prevention Initiative in his FY 2011 budget, an increase of $19 million over the current year. Please call the subcommittee to let them know that funding for evidence-based teen pregnancy prevention programs should be a priority, and that the increase in funding is necessary to make progress for youth in your community.
Call these key Members of the Senate Labor-H committee NOW to make sure they increase funding for teen pregnancy prevention, and the Title X program:
Chairman Tom Harkin (D-IA) – (202) 224-3254 |
If you need ideas for what to say when you call, use these helpful talking points, or take a look at the letter the Campaign sent to the House Appropriations Committee here and here.
- At a time when the progress on reducing teen pregnancy and birth rates is stalling, investing in programs that work to prevent teen pregnancy is more important than ever.
- Investing in teen pregnancy prevention not only improves the lives of young people, it saves money. In 2004 alone, the United States spent $9.1 billion dollars on teen childbearing. At the same time, the U.S. saved $6.7 billion because of the progress it made in reducing the teen birth rate over the last decade. Take a look at The National Campaign's state cost data to see how much teen childbearing cost in your state.
- In these tough economic times, it’s important to use our scarce resources on programs with strong evidence of success. The President’s proposal does that, and [SENATOR] should support including funding for effective teen pregnancy prevention programs in the Labor-H appropriations bill.
- Teen pregnancy is closely linked to a host of other critical social issues — education, poverty, health, child well-being, out-of-wedlock births, responsible fatherhood, and more. By investing in programs that work to prevent teen pregnancy, we can make progress on other issues that [SENATOR] cares about, such as improving academic achievement, decreasing drop out rates, and reducing child poverty.