SIECUS Applauds the Biden Administration on the Release of a Progressive Budget for FY22
For Immediate Release:
May 28, 2021
Washington, DC – Today, President Biden released his FY22 budget to Congress, representing the Administration’s priorities for discretionary spending across federal agencies.
Christine Soyong Harley, President and CEO of SIECUS: Sex Ed for Social Change released the following statement:
“SIECUS has fought for decades to ensure that all people, regardless of background, are able to receive sexual health information that affirms their identity and empowers them to make decisions about their own health. We are grateful to the Biden administration for proposing a budget to Congress that addresses an evidence-based, holistic approach to family planning and reproductive health.
“Among many other areas, the budget expands access to family planning healthcare services by providing $340 million, an increase of 18.7 percent, to the Title X Family Planning Program, which will improve access to critical reproductive and preventative health services, and advance gender and health equity. This is a marked shift from the prior administration’s efforts to gut and manipulate federal programs to advance a social agenda that is contrary to science and evidence. Furthermore, the budget includes a request of $101 million for the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program, an important downpayment on the request from advocates for $150 million.
“We are also pleased to note that the Administration has taken a bold and needed step in removing the harmful Hyde Amendment language that restricted the ability for federal funds to support abortion care. This language has disproportionately harmed communities of color that rely on publicly funded programs for healthcare.
“Disappointingly, the request also includes $35 million for Sexual Risk Avoidance, harmful programs that promote abstinence-only education that are neither evidence-based, nor effective. We hope that as Congress reviews the budget, they will work with advocates to eliminate funding for programs that have caused harm.
“We look forward to working with advocates and members of Congress to further review and advocate for congressional appropriation toward important, evidence-based programs to ensure that all people are able to access the health services they require.”
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SIECUS: Sex Ed for Social Change has served as the national voice for sex education for more than 55 years, asserting that sexuality is a fundamental part of being human, one worthy of dignity and respect. Through policy, advocacy, education, and strategic communications efforts, SIECUS advances sex education as a vehicle for social change—working toward a world where all people can access and enjoy sexual and reproductive freedom as they define it for themselves.
