Senator Chafee needs to hear from supportive Rhode Islanders and asked to co-sponsor the Baucus Amendment.

Call or e-mail Senator Chafee and ask him to support the Baucus Flexibility Amendment on Welfare’s Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage programs.

Please phone the Senator at 202-224-2921 or send him a message by going to chafee.senate.gov/webform.htm

• The United States Senate is currently considering the nation’s welfare law. Part of that law sets aside $50 million per year to states for the purposes of doing abstinence-only-until-marriage programs that must adhere to a strict eight point definition of what abstinence means.
• This definition hamstrings states in that they may not use the money for anything beyond abstinence-only-until-marriage. There is an opportunity to create flexibility with these funds and an amendment will be offered by Senator Max Baucus (D-MT) that will allow states to continue funding programs that adhere to the 8-point definition, or they can fund more comprehensive efforts that best meet the needs of their states. In other words, the amendment would empower states in funding efforts to prevent teen pregnancy,HIV/AIDS and STDs that best meet their needs.
• Senator Lincoln Chafee is currently considering supporting this amendment and being a lead Republican in this effort. Senator Chafee needs to hear from supportive Rhode Islanders and asked to co-sponsor this amendment.
• This is an enormous opportunity for us to change the destructive course that abstinence-only programs have been having across the country.

Please call or e-mail Senator Chafee and ask him to support the Baucus Flexibility Amendment on Welfare’s Abstinence-Only-Until-Marriage programs. Please phone the Senator at 202-224-2921 or send him a message by going to chafee.senate.gov/webform.htm