May 2, 2002 Representative Timothy Johnson 1541 Longworth House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Dear Representative Johnson, As your constituent, I urge you to oppose H.R. 4122, a bill that would authorize the continued use of federal tax dollars to support programs that exclusively teach abstinence. Censoring health information will endanger young people’s health. Due to an increased focus on abstinence-only education, comprehensive, medically-accurate sexuality education is becoming the exception rather than the rule. As a result, more students lack basic information that they need to protect their health. It is irresponsible — and dangerou — not to provide young people with the knowledge necessary to prevent pregnancy and STDs. In addition, as a pro-lifer, I draw your attention to the experience of Western European countries such as Sweden and the Netherlands. These countries provide their children with comprehensive sex education, and their abortion rates are far lower than the United States'. Comprehensive, accurate sex education is pro-life. Abstinence-only programs are discriminatory. By excluding information about safe sex practices and teaching about sex only in the context of marriage, abstinence-only programs stigmatize gay and lesbian teens and undermine efforts to educate them about HIV and STD prevention. Such hostility violates the rights of these students to attend school free of discrimination. Finally, federal dollars must not fund censorship. While a discussion of abstaining from sexual activity is an important component of any sexuality education curriculum, programs that focus exclusively on abstinence inhibit free expression by forbidding the discussion of essential information about human sexuality and reproduction. Again, I urge you to oppose H.R. 4122. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this important matter. Sincerely, Jennifer Roth
Jennifer Roth 610 W. Illinois St. Urbana, IL 61801 May 2, 2002 Secretary Tommy Thompson U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 200 Independence Avenue, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20201 Dear Secretary Thompson, Thank you for proposing that unborn children be covered under S-CHIP. I encourage you to issue a final rule to implement this regulation. But don't stop there -- health care should be available to every person, not just the unborn. I strongly urge you to work toward universal health coverage. Sincerely, Jennifer Roth
Last modified May 18, 2002.