Gus Bilirakis: “I, too rise, this evening to talk about an issue that the Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Health…”

“I, too rise, this evening to talk about an issue that the Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Health, which I chair, examined last week. I am referring, of course, to the Abstinence Only Education Funds, which are provided through title V of the Social Security Act. The Committee on Energy and Commerce favorably reported legislation last week that would reauthorize this important program through fiscal year 2007. These Abstinence Only Education Funds were first included as part of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, which reformed our Nation's welfare laws to put an emphasis on work and end the seemingly endless cycle of dependency that was present under the old Aid to Families With Dependent Children Program. Title V allocated $50 million for fiscal years 1998 to 2002 for block grants to States for the development of Abstinence Only Education programs. To date, 49 of the 50 States have elected to participate in this program.”