Republican rep.: Shift funds to abstinence-only because sex ed is 'dangerous'

A Republican U.S. congressman from Illinois is calling to take funds from traditional sex education, which he claims are "dangerous" for kids, and reallocated the money to abstinence-only programs with "incredible success records."

During a radio interview with Family Research Council President Tony Perkins on Tuesday, Rep. Randy Hultgren (R-IL) explained that he was co-sponsoring a bill to shift over a half a billion dollars away from sexual education over the next five years.

"What you’re doing is you’re redirecting money from a program that has negative consequences and redirecting some of it into one that has proven to have positive outcomes," Perkins opined.

"That’s right, yes," Hultgren agreed. "[T]his has changed dramatically under President [Barack] Obama and his administration and [Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen] Kathleen Sebelius. Basically they see it as a slush fund that they can use however they want to and they are putting it into some very dangerous and experimental education programs for younger and younger children."

"What this would do is money that is already there would put it into programs that we know work," the Illinois Republican added. "You look at the track record for abstinence education, incredible success records, kids really want to make good choices and if we give them good information it will just help them make these good choices."

A Mathematica Policy Research study released in 2007 found that students in abstinence-only programs did not delay sexual activity, and were not more likely to use condoms or other contraception.

"This rigorous, well-designed study adds to and confirms previous research findings that abstinence-only education programs are ineffective and a waste of taxpayer dollars," Guttmacher Institute CEO Sharon L. Camp said at the time. “The twin messages to policymakers are clear: One, stop funding ideology-driven abstinence-only programs. Two, start supporting programs that provide our young people with comprehensive sex education that teaches the benefits of abstinence, but also prepares them to be safe if and when they do become sexually active.”

Listen to this audio from FRC's Washington Watch via Right Wing Watch, broadcast March 12, 2013.

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