Washington D.C., Oct 1, 2009 / 00:24 am
The Senate Finance Committee voted to restore $50 million a year in federal funding for abstinence-only education. One abstinence ed supporter said the action was a victory for “the hard work of grassroots” efforts.
Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) sponsored the measure, which passed over the objections of committee chairman Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.). All ten Republicans and two Democrats, Sens. Kent Conrad of North Dakota and Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas, voted for the measure.
Hatch said abstinence education had been shown to work, while Baucus disagreed.
President Barack Obama in his 2010 budget has proposed to redirect money spent on abstinence-only education towards broader teen pregnancy-reduction programs.