News from Congresswoman Jane Harman

Congresswoman Jane harman - Press Release

May 07, 2002

Harman Participates In Capitol Hill Kick-Off Of First-Ever National Day To Prevent Teen Pregnancy

-- “Preventing teen pregnancy is a win-win deal for teens, their families, and their communities across the nation. Teens know this, parents know this, and local leaders know this -
Congress now needs to listen and support what works.”--

WASHINGTON D.C. - US Congresswoman Jane Harman (D-CA) today joined other prominent lawmakers for the Capitol Hill kick-off of the first-ever National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy - sponsored by the nonprofit, nonpartisan, National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy. On May 8, teens will go online to take a short quiz about the best thing to do is in a number of tough, but realistic, situations - including peer pressure, parties that get out of control, gossip, and more.

Standing in front of the Capitol, Harman stated, “Preventing teen pregnancy is an issue Republicans and Democrats should agree on. There are no ‘magic bullets’ for preventing teen pregnancy - not sex-ed alone, not abstinence alone.

Rather than having ideology drive our teen pregnancy policy, we should focus on common sense and solid research. This will allow us to make progress.

Preventing teen pregnancy is a win-win deal for teens, their families, and their communities across the nation.

Teens know this, parents know this, and local leaders know this - Congress now needs to listen and support what works.”

Congresswoman Harman speaks at the first-ever National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy

The National Day takes place as Congress considers reauthorizing the 1996 welfare reform legislation that includes a number of provisions related to teen pregnancy.

In April, Harman sponsored an amendment to Welfare Reform legislation before the House Commerce Committee that would have allowed states more flexibility in what programs to use to combat teen pregnancy. And in December 2001, Harman introduced legislation (H.R. 3581) that would fund teen pregnancy prevention programs based on proven methods.

Others participating in today’s event were Isabel Sawhill, President of the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy; Sarah Brown, Director of the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy; members of Congress, including Senators Harry Reid (D-NV), Evan Bayh (D-IN), and Tom Carper (D-DE), and Representatives Michael Castle (R-DE), Eva Clayton (D-NC), and Dave Camp (R-MI); state legislator Nathaniel Exum (D-MD); teens from around the country; as well as NFL standout Jason Sehorn, the founder of Sehorn's Corner, a nonprofit organization serving the needs of underprivileged single parent families.

###