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Population:
Global Population: REAL (Responsible Education About Life) Act

Our Position: support
Bill Number: S. 972
Sponsor: Frank R. Lautenberg
Legislative Session: 2008

The REAL Act would set up the first-ever federal program to provide responsible, comprehensive sex education to young people. This education would include science-based, medically accurate, and age appropriate public health information, and would supply young people with the tools to make informed decisions about their lives. Increased support for comprehensive sex education programs plays a critical role in the global effort to ensure healthier communities, curb population growth and advance sustainable development solutions.

Status

The REAL Act was introduced in the House and the Senate on March 22, 2007. In the House, it was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in the Senate, it was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. For more information, including full text of the bill and a complete list of co-sponsoring Senators, click here.

Action Needed

We must build strong bipartisan support for this legislation in the House and Senate to help ensure that all young people have access to critical health information and services.

• Contact your Senators today and ask them to co-sponsor the REAL Act (S 972).
• Click here to find your Senators' contact information.
• Click here for a list of current co-sponsoring Senators. If your Senators are already co-sponsors, write or call to thank them for their leadership on this issue!
• Help mobilize grassroots support for this legislation by joining the No More Money for Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage Programs Campaign today!

Contact

Contact:
Sarah Fairchild
Global Population and Environment Program Director
sarah.fairchild@sierraclub.org
202-675-2396

Background

One of the best ways we can ensure healthy communities here in the U.S. is to advocate for policies and programs that effectively work to reduce teen pregnancy. Of all developed countries, the U.S. has the highest rate of teenage pregnancy: each year, 900,000 women under 20 become pregnant, and 80% of these pregnancies are unintended. In large part, this is because over 35% of U.S. public high schools that teach sex education require abstinence be taught as the ONLY option for unmarried people. These programs do not allow discussion of contraceptives, or permit only discussion of contraceptive failure rates.

Since 1996, more than $1 billion in federal and state funding has supported abstinence-only-until-marriage programs that teach medically-incorrect information about contraceptives and reproductive health.  On the other hand, comprehensive sex education programs that include information about abstinence AND contraception are proven effective in helping young people delay the start of sexual activity, and increase the use of contraceptives once they do become sexually active. 

The REAL Act would set up the first-ever federal program to provide responsible, comprehensive sex education to young people. This education would include science-based, medically accurate, and age appropriate public health information, and would supply young people with the tools to make informed decisions about their lives.