Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Thursday, July 2, 79 members of the Democratic Women’s Caucus (DWC) and the Democratic Caucus, led by DWC Reproductive Healthcare Task Force Co-Chairs Kelly Morrison (MN-03) and Judy Chu (CA-28) sent a letter to Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, demanding the immediate reversal of the administration’s cancellation of 53 active Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program (TPP) grants, totaling to $68 million in funding. In addition to reversing the cancellation of funds, the letter calls on HHS to provide the rationale behind each cancellation, justifications for canceling the grants, and explanations for redirecting the funding to programs not previously authorized by Congress. 

TPP grants authorized by Congress are used to lead evidence-based programs that reduce teen pregnancy, STIs, and other health risks for young people and have long been appropriated in a bipartisan manner. Since the enactment of TPP, millions of women and girls across the country have positively benefited from increased health-education and support programs. 

In their letter, the Members explain that TPP is critical to helping young people make health decisions that lead to reduced sexual risk: 

“In fact, the contributions of the TPP Program were also acknowledged in a September 2017 unanimously-agreed-to-report from the Bipartisan Commission on Evidence-Based Policymaking, who highlighted the TPP Program as an example of a federal program developing increasingly rigorous portfolios of evidence. Rigorous evaluation and evidence-based practices are essential to the continued success of teen pregnancy prevention efforts for which millions of dollars have already been invested.”

The Members highlight the impact TPP’s resources and education has had on reducing teen birth rates in the U.S. and helping young people thrive: 

“The teen birth rate has fallen 81% since 1991 and 72% since 2007. The outcomes of this program save lives as teenage pregnancies are at high risk for health complications. Specifically, teenagers 16-19 years old face increased risk of preterm birth, and teens 15 years old and younger are even more vulnerable to health complications. Overall, the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program has an established history of investing in community-driven strategies, identifying new curricula that work through rigorous evaluation, and supporting their implementation with fidelity.”

The Members also emphasize the harm of removing and redirecting funds from TPP programs, which will undermine the program's ability to help young people and disrupt critical research:

“Redirecting funding from the TPP program jeopardizes access to the high-quality health education, support, and resources that Congress intended. Abrupt and arbitrary disruptions on grounds unrelated to the core aims of the TPP program undermine the ability of the program to serve its congressionally intended purpose of giving young people the knowledge and tools needed to improve sexual and reproductive health outcomes and promote positive experiences, relationships, and environments that help our nation’s youth thrive.” 

Read the full letter here.

In addition to letter leads, the letter was signed by: Democratic Women's Caucus, Congressional Hispanic Caucus Liaison Andrea Salinas, Democratic Women's Caucus, Servicewomen, Women Veterans, and Military Families Task Force Chair Chrissy Houlahan, Democratic Women's Caucus, Policy Task Force Co-Chair Deborah K. Ross, Democratic Women's Caucus Whip Emily Randall, Democratic Women's Caucus, Communications Task Force Co-Chair Jasmine Crockett, Democratic Women's Caucus, Progressive Caucus Liaison Jill Tokuda, Democratic Women's Caucus, National Leaders & Advocacy Organizations Liaison Joyce Beatty, Democratic Women's Caucus, Equality Caucus Liaison Julie Johnson, Democratic Women's Caucus, New Member Liaison LaMonica McIver, Democratic Women's Caucus Chair Emerita Lois Frankel, Democratic Women's Caucus, Congressional Black Caucus Liaison Lucy McBath, Democratic Women's Caucus, Member Services Task Force Co-Chair Melanie Stansbury, Democratic Women's Caucus Chief Whip Nikema Williams, Democratic Women's Caucus, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Liaison Pramila Jayapal, Democratic Women's Caucus, Caregiving Task Force Co-Chair Brittany Pettersen, Adelita S. Grijalva, Alma S. Adams, Ph.D., Analilia Mejia, Angie Craig, April McClain Delaney, Betty McCollum, Bonnie Watson Coleman, Chellie Pingree, Chris Pappas, Danny K. Davis, Dave Min, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Doris Matsui, Dwight Evans, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Frederica S. Wilson, Gabe Amo, Greg Stanton, Gwen S. Moore, Haley M. Stevens, J. Luis Correa, Jennifer L. McClellan, Jerrold Nadler, Jesús G. "Chuy" García, Jonathan L. Jackson, Josh Gottheimer, Kevin Mullin, Kim Schrier, M.D., Kristen McDonald Rivet, Kweisi Mfume, Laura Friedman, Lizzie Fletcher, Lloyd Doggett, Lori Trahan, Madeleine Dean, Marc A. Veasey, Mark Takano, Mary Gay Scanlon, Maxine Dexter, M.D., Mike Levin, Mike Thompson, Nydia M. Velázquez, Paul D. Tonko, Ritchie Torres, Salud Carbajal, Sam T. Liccardo, Sarah Elfreth, Seth Magaziner, Seth Moulton, Shomari Figures, Shri Thanedar, Steve Cohen, Stephen F. Lynch, Suzan K. DelBene, Suzanne Bonamici, Sylvia R. Garcia, Troy A. Carter, Sr., Valerie P. Foushee, Veronica Escobar, William R. Keating, Yvette D. Clarke, and Jahana Hayes.

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