Healthy Teen Initiative Possibly Added to Health Care Reform

Last week in the House of Representatives the House Energy and Commerce Committee made some important votes regarding the Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009.  Two amendments were introduced in Committee.  One which would extend abstinence only education - a program which has been proven to be ineffective in preventing abstinence and unintended pregnancies.  Congressman Terry Lee (R-NE) submitted the amendment to fund the program through 2012.  The amendment failed by a vote of 29-26.

Congressman Lois Capps (D-CA) submitted an amendment to include a Healthy Teen Initiative to the bill.  The Healthy Teen Initiative would expand the limited scope of the President's original language which excluded information about the prevention of spreading sexually transmitted diseases.  The  amendment passed by a vote of 33 to 23!

Both of these votes are a great leap forward in improving the Health Care Reform bill.  This is a big win for teens and the uninsured.