07 LC 33
1988
Senate
Resolution 388
By:
Senator Orrock of the 36th
A
RESOLUTION
Urging
the United States Congress to enact the Prevention First Act (H.R. 8191S.21);
and for other purposes.
WHEREAS,
improving access to preventive health care and supporting healthy families
should be a shared national goal; and
WHEREAS,
according to the Georgia Department of Human Resources, Georgia has the seventh
highest number of AIDS cases in the United States; and
WHEREAS,
the Legislature further recognizes that Guttmacher Institute studies show
Georgia has the 8th highest teenage pregnancy rate of any state;
and
WHEREAS,
the Legislature further recognizes that Guttmacher Institute studies show family
planning clinics in Georgia serve only 41 percent of all women in need of
publicly supported contraceptive services; and
WHEREAS,
increased funding from the federal government would ameliorate the problems of
unintended pregnancies and high rates of sexually-transmitted disease, as well
as the current insufficient levels of funds to address these crises;
and
WHEREAS,
the Prevention First Act (H.R. 8 19/S.21) introduced in the 110th Congress by
Representative Louise Slaughter (D-NY) and Senator Harry Reid (D-NV),is an
omnibus family planning initiative that expands access to preventive health care
services and education programs to help reduce unintended pregnancy, prevent the
spread of sexually transmitted infections, and support healthy families by
improving women's health. This federal legislation offers to amend public health
legislation, including Title I, Title II, Title III, Title IV, Title V, Title
VI, Title VII, and Title VIII; and
WHEREAS,
Title I should be amended to authorize $700 million in funding for Title X
women´s clinics; and
WHEREAS,
Title II should be amended to require private health plans to cover FDA-approved
prescription contraceptives and related medical services; and
WHEREAS,
Title III should be amended to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services
to develop and disseminate information about emergency contraception (EC) to the
public and to health care; and
WHEREAS,
Title IV should be amended to require that hospitals receiving federal funds
provide victims of sexual assault with information and access to EC;
and
WHEREAS,
Title V should be amended to provide annual funding to public and private
entities to establish or expand teenage pregnancy prevention programs;
and
WHEREAS,
Title VI should be amended to require federally funded programs that provide
information on the use of contraceptives to ensure that the information is
medically accurate and includes health benefits and failure rates;
and
WHEREAS,
Title VII should be amended to strengthen Medicaid coverage of family planning
services; and
WHEREAS,
Title VIII should be amended to provide for comprehensive, medically accurate
sex education programs that teach young people about abstinence, health, and
contraceptives; and
WHEREAS,
sponsored by Senator Harry Reid (D-NV) and Representative Louise Slaughter
(D-NY), respectively, such legislation is supported by public health advocates
groups across the nation.
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body fully
support and strongly encourage the passage of the Prevention First Act (H.R. 8
19/S.21).
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed
to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to each member of the Georgia
Congressional Delegation.