Thanks to so many of your efforts, we are happy to report that the following action has taken place in the House today:
Reported By the National Abstinence Education Association
July 11, 2007

Title V Extension
The full House passed a 3-month extension of Title V abstinence education funding. The language passed in the House is identical to that passed in the Senate, so this now moves on to the President for his signature. This extension will continue the present program through the end of Fiscal Year 2007 (September 30), with no changes in either funding levels or A-H criteria.

What this means: Congress will revisit the Title V funding issue for FY2008. To assure that no changes in funding or legislative definitions for abstinence take place, it is imperative that continued educational efforts be provided to Members of Congress on the House Energy & Commerce Committee and the Senate Finance Committee.

CBAE Funding Approved in Full House Appropriations Committee
The House Appropriations full committee approved CBAE funding at the same level as proposed in the subcommittee (28 million dollar increase). The A-H criteria also remains intact. Report language was added, however, that encourages requirements of medical accuracy both for abstinence education as well as for the new comprehensive sex education funding stream, proposed in the House Appropriations bill. The language for medical accuracy is as follows:

Teen pregnancy prevention demonstration grants: “The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall require each applicant for financial assistance under this program to certify that all materials proposed in the application and funded during the project period of the grant are medically accurate. The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall require a panel of medical experts to review all grant applications and assess whether the materials proposed are medically accurate.�...

�The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall require each applicant for financial assistance under the abstinence education program funded under this heading to certify that all materials proposed in the application and funded during the project period of the grant are medically accurate; and the Secretary shall require a panel of medical experts shall review such grant applications and assess whether the materials proposed are medically accurate.�

What this means: The full House will take up this debate before the August Congressional recess. After the full House votes on this measure, the entire issue will move to a House/Senate conference committee where final details and language will be agreed upon. This continues to be a fluid process and many changes could still develop in the interim so continued calls to educate Members of Congress on the importance of CBAE funding are very important.