PRESS RELEASE

(11/02/2006)

Abstinence Education Vindicated and Waxman Report Discredited

On October 27th, the Committee on Government Reform released an official review finding Democratic Rep. Henry Waxman’s December 2004 report, The Content of Federally Funded Abstinence-Only Education Program, a misleading and inaccurate description of abstinence until marriage programs.

The new report, Abstinence and Its Critics, released by Rep. Mark Souder, rectifies the misinformation widely disseminated by the mainstream media and clearly shows that abstinence programs are effective. The report further indicates “the value of abstinence for young people cannot be overestimated, and it is the duty of Congress to support programs that serve the interest of America’s youth.”

Prepared as a minority report without the endorsement of the full committee, the Waxman Report fails to include a fair evaluation of abstinence until marriage curricula. It also precludes any review of so called “comprehensive” sex education and seems to imply that these programs are the only worthy recipient of funding. Indeed, such programs already have a disproportionate funding edge despite their dangerous message and questionable results. In addition, “comprehensive” sex education programs often involve inappropriate graphics, descriptions of sexual acts, and suggestive information that contradicts parents’ approval and therefore needs further scrutiny.

“We’ve known all along that the Waxman Report contains serious flaws that discredit its authority,” stated Charlee Voorhees, Director of Government Affairs for the Abstinence Clearinghouse. “The data indicates that abstinence education works. It provides an effective deterrent to teen pregnancy and STDs while protecting the emotional well-being of America’s youth. We are glad to see that Congress takes abstinence education seriously and continues to lend support to abstinence programs.”

To read the full report, including the Waxman Report, please visit  or here. 

The Abstinence Clearinghouse is a non-profit national educational organization that promotes the appreciation for and practice of sexual abstinence through distribution of age-appropriate, factual and medically-accurate materials. The Clearinghouse was founded to provide a central location where character, relationship and abstinence programs, curricula, speakers, and materials could be accessed. The Clearinghouse serves agencies on a national, state and local level, as well as international organizations.