PETITION CLOSED

  • The time period for signing this petition has ended.
  1. Signatures
    123 out of 200
    Petitioning
    1. The U.S. Senate (+ 1 other)
      Petitioning
      close
      • The U.S. Senate
      • The U.S. House of Representatives
  2. Created By
    Joy Esposito
    Des Moines, IA
About this Petition Petition Letter

Strip the Hatch Amendment from Health Care Reform
Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT) has pushed through an amendment in the Senate Finance Committee authorizing $50 million in funding for abstinence-only programs as part of Health Care Reform- despite over 10 years of evidence that these programs do not work.   Tell your Senators it's time to stop these programs once and for all and support and become a co-sponsor of The REAL Act.

The Responsible Education About Life (REAL) Act (S. 611/H.R.1551) sponsored by Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Representative Barbara Lee (D-CA), would provide federal money to support responsible, comprehensive sex education in schools. This education would include age-appropriate, science-based, and medically accurate information about both abstinence and contraception. Currently, there are no dedicated federal funds allocated for comprehensive sex education in schools.

Recent Signatures

Please strip The Hatch Amendment and support The REAL Act

Dear Representative

I am disappointed and outraged that the Senate Finance Committee passed the Hatch Amendment – reinstating $50 million in funding for abstinence-only-until-marriage programs as part of Health Care Reform.

As your constituent and as someone who cares about the future of young people in the United States, I am writing to ask you to strip the Hatch Amendment from the final Health Care Reform bill in the Senate. Health Care Reform is a critically important task for this Congress and it should not be hijacked by ideologically motivated earmarks. Moreover, study after study has shown that abstinence-only programs have no effect whatsoever. It is time for the federal government to stop wasting taxpayer dollars on these failed programs.

I stand with the millions of Americans who support teaching both abstinence and contraception. A 2004 survey by National Public Radio/Kaiser Family Foundation /Harvard University Kennedy School of Government found that 86% of voters want young people to receive a comprehensive approach to sex education that includes teaching about both abstinence and contraception. Abstinence-only-until-marriage programs ignore scientific research, the recommendations of medical experts, overwhelming public opinion – and basic common sense.

As Health Care Reform moves forward in the Senate, I would again ask that you please work to strip the Hatch Amendment from the final bill and instead, support The Responsible Education About Life (REAL) Act (S. 611/H.R.1551) sponsored by Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Representative Barbara Lee (D-CA). The REAL Act would provide federal money to support responsible, comprehensive sex education in schools. This education would include age-appropriate, science-based, and medically accurate information about both abstinence and contraception.

Young people all across America are counting on you to do the right thing. And so am I.

[Your name]

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