WASHINGTON — Funding for abstinence education has returned to the federal budget in the spending bill passed by Congress and signed by President Obama.
The $1 trillion budget, which staves off another potential government shutdown, allocates $5 million for abstinence-based Sexual Risk Avoidance (SRA) programs that were slashed by the Obama administration beginning in 2009.
Abstinence-only education has been under fire by critics who argue that it is ineffective and leaves teens at greater risk of pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases if they engage in sex. Advocates for abstinence education, meanwhile, point to new evidence suggesting their programs are having a positive impact.
Even mainstream media outlets gave some credit to abstinence education. (TAB)
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