I
105TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 1736
To provide for a reduction in the rate of adolescent pregnancy through
the evaluation of public and private prevention programs, and for other
purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MAY 22, 1997
Mrs. LOWEY (for herself, Mr. CASTLE, Mrs. CLAYTON, and Mrs. JOHNSON of
Connecticut) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Commerce
A BILL
To provide for a reduction in the rate of adolescent preg-
nancy through the evaluation of public and private pre-
vention programs, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Teenage Pregnancy
Reduction Act of 1997’’.
SEC. 2. EVALUATION OF EFFECTIVE PROGRAMS FOR PRE-
VENTION OF ADOLESCENT PREGNANCY.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Health and
Human Services shall (directly or through grants or con-
tracts awarded to public or nonprofit private entities) ar-
range for the evaluation of a wide variety of existing pro-
grams designed in whole or part to prevent pregnancy in
adolescents, including programs that do not receive grants
from the Federal Government for the operation of the pro-
grams. The purpose of the evaluation shall be the deter-
mination of—
(1) the effectiveness of such programs in reduc-
ing adolescent pregnancy;
(2) the factors contributing to the effectiveness
of the programs; and
(3) the feasibility of replicating the programs in
other locations.
(b) PARTICIPATION
OF FEDERAL AGENCIES
AND
PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS.—In carrying out the evalua-
tion under subsection (a), the Secretary shall as appro-
priate—
(1) provide for the participation of the Director
of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
the Director of the Office of Population Affairs, the
Assistant Secretary for Children and Families, and
the Director of the National Institute of Child
Health and Human Development; and
(2) provide for the participation of organiza-
tions with demonstrated expertise in conducting
evaluations of adolescent pregnancy prevention pro-
grams, including the National Campaign to Prevent
Teen Pregnancy, a nonpartisan organization.
(c) DESIGN OF EVALUATION.—Subject to subsection
(d), the Secretary shall select a design for the evaluation
under subsection (a) from among proposals that—
(1) provide for the evaluation of programs in
various geographic regions;
(2) with respect to the populations served by
the programs, provide for determining factors that
are specific to various socioeconomic, racial, ethnic,
and age groups, and factors that are specific to gen-
der; and
(3) meet such other criteria as the Secretary
may establish.
(d) MEASURES OF EFFECTIVENESS.—The Secretary
shall define the measures of effectiveness used in evaluat-
ing the programs designed to reduce the rate of adolescent
pregnancy, and shall include a variety of measures of ef-
fectiveness in the definition.
(e) SCIENTIFIC PEER REVIEW.—The Secretary may
provide funds for an evaluation pursuant to subsection (a)
only if the evaluation has been recommended for approval
pursuant to a process of scientific peer review utilizing one
or more panels of experts. Such panels shall include ex-
perts from public entities and from private entities.
(f) SUBMISSION OF REPORT TO CONGRESS AND SEC-
RETARY.—Not later than December 1, 2002, the evalua-
tion under subsection (a) shall be completed and a report
shall be submitted to the Congress that describes the find-
ings made in the evaluation and provides recommenda-
tions for future programs designed to reduce the rate of
adolescent pregnancy.
(g) DISSEMINATION
OF INFORMATION.—After the
submission of the report under subsection (f), the Sec-
retary shall disseminate the findings and recommenda-
tions presented in the report. The categories of individuals
to whom the information is disseminated shall include ad-
ministrators of prevention programs, public and private
entities providing financial support to such programs, or-
ganizations working on such programs, professional medi-
cal associations, entities providing public health services,
entities providing social work services, and school adminis-
trators.
(h) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—For the
purpose of carrying out this section, there are authorized
to be appropriated $3,500,000 for each of the fiscal years
1998 through 2000, and such sums as may be necessary
for each of the fiscal years 2001 through 2003.
SEC. 3. ONE-TIME INCENTIVE GRANTS FOR EFFECTIVE
PREVENTION PROGRAMS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—In the case of a prevention pro-
gram that pursuant to the evaluation under section 2 has
been found to be effective, the Secretary may under this
section make not more than one grant to the entity that
operates the program. The purpose of the grant shall be
to assist the entity with the expenses of operating the pro-
gram.
(b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—For car-
rying out subsection (a), there is authorized to be appro-
priated $10,000,000, in the aggregate, for the fiscal years
2002 through 2004. Such authorization is in addition to
any other authorization of appropriations that is available
for making grants for the operational expenses of preven-
tion programs.
SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.
(a) PREVENTION PROGRAMS.—
(1) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—The provisions
of this Act apply with respect to a prevention pro-
gram without regard to which of the various pro-
grammatic approaches for the prevention of preg-
nancy in adolescents (as defined in paragraph (2))
is the focus of the program.
(2) PROGRAMMATIC
APPROACHES.—For pur-
poses of this Act, the term ‘‘programmatic ap-
proaches’’, with respect to prevention programs, in-
cludes advocating abstinence from sexual activity;
providing family planning services (including contra-
ception); fostering academic achievement; mentoring
by adults; providing employment assistance or job
training; providing professional counseling or peer
counseling; providing for recreational or social
events; and any combination thereof.
(b) OTHER DEFINITIONS.—For purposes of this Act:
(1) The term ‘‘prevention program’’ means a
program for the prevention of pregnancy in adoles-
cents.
(2) The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary
of Health and Human Services.
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