ICYMI: Following Shaheen Push, HHS to Make Federal Funds Available for NH Sex Ed Providers
(Washington, DC) — In case you missed it, heeding calls from U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), this week the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced it will soon make available federal funds for Granite State sex education providers after the GOP-controlled Executive Council blocked this routine funding and put at risk the health of Granite State youth. In December, Shaheen led the New Hampshire congressional delegation in a letter to HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra urging the Department to fill the gap in funding to support sex education programs, which have helped dramatically reduce rates of teen pregnancy and STD’s. The federal funds will be awarded through a competitive grant process.
More below:
Union Leader: Biden administration steps in with funds for sex-ed programs
- The Biden administration is stepping in to offer federal grants directly to sex-education programs in Manchester and the Claremont area after the state’s Republican-led Executive Council rejected them.
- New Hampshire’s congressional delegation had pursued the direct grants after the council turned down repeated attempts to approve accepting the funds on behalf of the state.
- In 2021, the all-Democratic delegation went the same route when it convinced the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to contract directly with Planned Parenthood of Northern England and other family planning providers that operated abortion clinics.
- “Access to these resources never should have required a federal agency stepping up to resolve a crisis created by GOP executive councilors, but I’m relieved the Department of Health and Human Services heeded my call for assistance,” U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen said in a statement.
- “These dollars are urgently needed to help allow providers in New Hampshire to continue offering evidence-based education in their communities, which experience higher-than-average teen pregnancy rates.”
- The two programs, Amoskeag Health in Manchester and TLC Family Resource Center in Claremont, can now apply for grants of up to $250,000. Both had to cut back programs after the council’s action.
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