The following comes from a February 19 Christian Post article by Leonardo Blair:

President Barack Obama has proposed the elimination of funding for abstinence-only education programs run by the Department of Health and Human Services and increasing funding for other programs.

The proposed elimination of funding for the abstinence-only programs are among several cuts proposed by Obama in his fiscal year 2017 budget according to a Vox report. The funding comes in the form of an annual $10 million grant.

Abstinence-only programs also do not typically include information on condoms or other forms of birth control in lessons but implementers of these programs say the are effective in positively influencing sexual behavior among teenagers.

The Sexuality Information And Education Council Of The U.S., however, offered a strong opinion on the proposed cuts in a statement last Tuesday. The abstinence-only project, says SIECUS is a wasted effort that has already cost taxpayers nearly $2 billion.

“SIECUS is grateful for President Obama’s leadership in seeking to end abstinence-only-until-marriage funding once and for all. After three decades and nearly $2 billion in federal spending wasted on this failed approach, the President’s proposed budget increases support for programs and efforts that seek to equip young people with the skills they need to ensure their lifelong sexual health and well-being,” said SIECUS’s vice president for policy, interim president and CEO, Jesseca Boyer.

“SIECUS also applauds the President’s proposed $4 million increase for the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program, helping communities implement evidence-informed and innovative strategies to support the sexual health of our nation’s youth,” she added.