Progressives who were paying attention breathed a sigh of relief and gratitude when President Obama left abstinence-only funding out of the 2010 budget. Finally, we had a more reality-based approach to human sexuality reflected in government policy, or at least, not affront to it. Some people, therefore, hoped that when the Senate Finance Committee okayed Sec. 2954 of the health-reform bill on September 30 it wouldn't survive. But Wednesday, the noxious paragraph was in the final bill that may be voted on this weekend.
SEC. 2954. RESTORATION OF FUNDING FOR ABSTINENCE EDUCATION. Section 510 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 710) is amended (1) in subsection (a), by striking fiscal year 1998 and each subsequent fiscal year and inserting each of fiscal years 2010 through 2014; and (2) in subsection (d) (A) in the first sentence, by striking 1998 through 2003 and inserting 2010 through 2014; and (B) in the second sentence, by inserting (except that such appropriation shall be made on the date of enactment of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in the case of fiscal year 2010) before the period.
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