Pro-Choice Americans Commend Rep. Hodes for Standing Up Against Ineffective Bush “Abstinence-Only” Policy
Washington, DC – Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, and Grace LeClair, executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice New Hampshire, today issued a joint statement hailing Rep. Paul Hodes (D-NH) for speaking out at the first-ever oversight hearing on President Bush’s dangerous and discredited “abstinence-only” policy. Today’s hearing before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform comes on the heels of a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that at least one in four teenage girls nationwide has a sexually transmitted infection. “Abstinence-only” programs must by law censor information about condoms and contraception. “Pro-choice New Hampshire voters thank Rep. Hodes for shining a spotlight on ‘abstinence-only’ programs that put our teens at risk,” LeClair said. “For years, President Bush and his anti-choice allies in Congress have spent hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars on programs that simply don’t work. As a parent and a taxpayer, I’m glad New Hampshire has a new pro-choice vote in Congress, a representative willing to stand up for sound science, healthy teens, and accurate information in the classroom.” Keenan said new members of the committee opened the door for congressional action to stop funds for these ineffective programs. “After eight years of Bush and his anti-choice congressional allies, fortunately now we have new pro-choice freshmen like Rep. Hodes to bring common sense to Congress. With freshman like this, pro-choice Americans are seeing a real difference in Congress’ approach to reproductive-health issues.” NARAL Pro-Choice America will launch an email campaign tomorrow to mobilize activists across the country to contact their representatives and urge them to stop funding risky and discredited “abstinence-only” programs. Testimony submitted by Nancy Keenan to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform can be found at http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/assets/files/naral-testimony-for-abstinence-only-oversight-hearing-408.pdf .
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