Eva M. Clayton: “teenage pregnancy is a condition that can be controlled and prevented in many instances. Yet, 30 percent of all…”

“teenage pregnancy is a condition that can be controlled and prevented in many instances. Yet, 30 percent of all out-of-wedlock births are to teenagers, below the age of 20. That astonishing reality should be alarming to all in Congress. No other industrialized nation, with a population comparable to the United States, has a problem of this magnitude. On the issue of teenage pregnancy, we have the dubious distinction of leading the world. Why, you may ask, is this problem out of control? Simply put, it is out of control because we have not taken steps to control it. That is changing. In January, President Clinton announced a bipartisan ``National Campaign To Reduce Teenage Pregnancy.'' The mission of the campaign is, ``To reduce teenage pregnancy by supporting values and stimulating actions that are consistent with a pregnancy-free adolescence.'' The goal of the campaign is, ``To reduce the teenage pregnancy rate by one-third by the year 2005.'' Neither party, nor politics, nor philosophy should stand against this vital mission and this critical goal. This is an issue that we should be able to work together regardless of our party affiliation. The mission is difficult, but it can be done. The goal is demanding, but it is within our reach. As we consider how and where to reduce spending, we must not forget that teenage pregnancies cause a heavy burden on the Federal budget.”