Congressman Files Bill to De-Fund Schools Giving Morning After Pill to Teenagers
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
May 21, 2009
Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) — A member of Congress has introduced a bill that would yank federal funding for any school that gives teenagers the morning after pill. The bill comes after the Obama administration removed protections making it so 17-year-old girls can now purchase the morning after pill over the counter.
Wanting to restore some of the protections for older teens and wanting to make sure younger teens do not get the drugs without a doctor’s consultation and parental approval, Congressman Doug Lamborn has filed new legislation.
The Colorado Republican has sponsored the Schoolchildren’s Protection Act, which has 40 original co-sponsors.
“The so-called morning after pill can induce abortion, if conception has taken place, and has no place in our public school health clinics," Lamborn said in a statement. "This bill would prohibit federal funds from going to any school that distributes or provides emergency contraception or a prescription for such contraception."
“It is morally unacceptable for taxpayers to fund abortions for school-age children. Additionally, these drugs can lead to serious health consequences for the child, such as heart attacks and strokes. It is in everyone’s interest to protect our children," Lamborn added.
Currently any school-based health clinic receiving federal funds under Medicaid, SCHIP, or Title X is authorized to distribute any contraception, including the morning-after pill.
The bill would prohibit federal funds to any school that distributes or provides emergency contraception or a prescription for such contraception on the premises or in the facilities of an elementary or secondary school.
The morning-after pill is a high dosage of progesterone, estrogen, or both of these artificial steroids together, recommended to be used after sexual intercourse, over a period of 72 hours, to achieve the goal of preventing or ending pregnancy.
Lamborn’s bill will ban public schools from distributing the morning after pill. If schools fail to comply and continue distributing the morning after pill they will lose federal funding.
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