In preparation for Wednesday's markup, the House Labor, Health and Human Services and Education (LHHS) Appropriation Subcommittee, released the fiscal year 2013 LHHS Funding Bill today that includes a funding provision for the Competitive Abstinence Education Program. Funded at only $5 million dollars in FY 2012, the bill would provide $20 million dollars for competitive grants for Sexual Risk Avoidance (SRA) abstinence programming by public or private entities.

In addition, the bill permits unused Title V abstinence Education state block grant funds to be redistributed to states that wish to implement effective abstinence education programs. In the past, nearly $13 millino dollars in funding designated for the Title V Abstinence Education program were unused because no provision existed in congressional legislation to permit states to have access to the unused funds. The FY 2013 bill corrects this oversight.

"The National Abstinence Education Association (NAEA) applauds Chairman Rehberg and the subcommittee for placing a priority on abstinence education. Parents overwhelmingly support such programming and will be gratified to see their tax dollars supporting the healthy message of abstinence," stated Valerie Huber, Executive Director of NAEA.

Wednesday, the LHHS subcommittee will debate the draft bill. NAEA urges the committee to approve this portion without any amendments.

"NAEA is pleased with the efforts to restore an emphasis on the SRA Abstinence Education approach in this draft bill. We urge Congress to make the recommendations a part of the final bill sent to the President for his signature. Our youth deserve the best opportunity to secure the best outcomes for their health and well-being," noted Huber.

Read the draft bill here:http://appropriations.house.gov/uploadedfiles/bills-112hr-sc-ap-fy13-laborhhsed.pdf