Despite declines in recent years, the teen pregnancy rate in the United States remains unacceptably high.  To address this challenge, teens must be able to obtain confidential and affordable reproductive-health services.  However, President Bush and other anti-choice politicians have stymied efforts to give teens the tools they need to protect themselves against unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).  Now, with pro-choice leadership restored in Congress, there is an opportunity for real solutions – instead of divisiveness. 

The Facts

In spite of a recent decline, the United States still has the highest rate of teen pregnancy in the western industrialized world.  

• Studies show that the United States teen-pregnancy rate is nearly twice that in Canada and Great Britain and approximately four times that in France and Sweden.
• Approximately 750,000 young women in the United States – almost one in three – becomes pregnant before she reaches the age of 20.  
• Eight in ten of these pregnancies are unintended and nearly a third end in abortion. 

Bush's Failed Approach

President Bush and his administration have repeatedly failed to offer a meaningful, effective response to the problem of teen pregnancy.  Instead, he and his allies in Congress have spent more than $1 billion in taxpayer dollars on "abstinence-only" programs.

• Research shows that “abstinence-only” programs do not work.  A report commissioned by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services concludes that students in abstinence-only programs are no more likely to abstain from sex, delay initiation of sex, or have fewer sexual partners.
• Instead of providing teens with important information and health care, this administration has worked to restrict access to birth control and other health care for teens.
• President Bush has slashed funding for after-school programs that keep teens occupied during the hours when they are most likely to engage in risky behavior, like sex, crime, and substance use.
• More troubling, this administration neglects the cycle of poverty in the United States by failing to raise the minimum wage and fund programs that assist low-income and other needy families.
  

A Better Way

While President Bush supports policies that put teens at risk, NARAL Pro-Choice America has a better plan for helping teens prevent pregnancy: 

• Sex-education programs
• Better access to birth control
• Investing in critical after-school programs 

Legislative Solutions

In contrast to President Bush's political response, pro-choice lawmakers have a serious, comprehensive plan to prevent teen pregnancy:

• The Teen Pregnancy Prevention, Responsibility and Opportunity Act (S.1137, H.R.2097), sponsored by Sen. Robert Menendez and Rep. Steve Rothman (both D-NJ), would help schools and non-profit organizations set up programs that encourage teens to delay sexual activity and help parents communicate with their children about sex.  In addition, the proposal would restore proposed funding cuts for essential after-school programs that keep young people on the road to success. Urge your members of Congress to cosponsor this bill.
• The Responsible Education About Life Act, known as the REAL Act (S.972, H.R.1653), has been authored by Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Reps. Barbara Lee (D-CA) and Christopher Shays (R-CT).  This bill would establish the first-ever federal program for comprehensive, medically accurate sex-education programs. Urge your members of Congress to support this bill.
• The Guarantee of Medical Accuracy in Sex Education Act (S.4059, H.R.5598 in the 109th Congress), sponsored by Sen. Lautenberg and Reps. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) and James Moran (D-VA), would ensure that federally funded abstinence-only programs are medically accurate.  The aim of this legislation is to ensure that taxpayer funds are not spent on the spread of misinformation.

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