Contact: J.P. Duffy, Family Research Council (FRC), 866-372-6397

WASHINGTON, April 23 /Standard Newswire/ -- Family Research Council (FRC) President Tony Perkins released the following statement applauding The Heritage Foundation for a careful review of 21 abstinence education programs which was released today. The review comes one day before House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) holds a hearing on abstinence programs.

"Heritage's paper shows that abstinence education programs work. Fifteen of 21 programs they reviewed showed positive behavioral results, including delay or reduction of sexual activity.
"The research by Christine C. Kim and Robert Rector provides valuable data about the benefits of abstinence education programs and, most importantly, that it is the teens who benefit most. This paper also shows that none of the programs had a negative impact, despite what opponents of abstinence claim.

"The fact is that this study shows positive results, in line with 80% of adults who support abstinence among teens until they are in a committed relationship. The goal of genuine abstinence education is to build on these adult expectations and promote abstinence until marriage, the healthiest and most beneficial outcome.

"All of the evidence shows that sexual abstinence is the healthiest behavior for youth. Teaching and equipping youth with the skills to practice this behavior is the goal of genuine abstinence education.
"Given the huge cost of sexually transmitted infections among teens in our society, the government should support effective abstinence education programs like those Heritage has reviewed, not promote programs that encourage young teens to engage in physically and emotionally risky sexual behavior. The government does not promote drug use or underage drinking, and it should not promote risky sexual behavior either."