PRINTER'S NO. 3661
No. 680 Session of 2004
INTRODUCED BY BARD, BASTIAN, LEDERER, FEESE, REICHLEY, BALDWIN,
BEBKO-JONES, BELFANTI, BROWNE, CAPPELLI, CAUSER, CIVERA,
CRAHALLA, CRUZ, DENLINGER, DeWEESE, D. EVANS, FABRIZIO,
FRANKEL, GEIST, GINGRICH, HARHART, HARRIS, HERMAN, HERSHEY,
HESS, KELLER, KOTIK, LAUGHLIN, LESCOVITZ, MAITLAND, MAJOR,
MANDERINO, MANN, MARSICO, McILHATTAN, MELIO, PALLONE, PAYNE,
PISTELLA, ROBERTS, ROHRER, RUBLEY, SAINATO, SCAVELLO,
B. SMITH, SOLOBAY, STURLA, E. Z. TAYLOR, THOMAS, TIGUE,
WALKO, WASHINGTON, WATSON, WEBER AND WOJNAROSKI,
APRIL 12, 2004
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
APRIL 12, 2004
A RESOLUTION
1 Designating the month of May 2004 as "Teen Pregnancy Prevention
2 Month" in Pennsylvania.
3 WHEREAS, The Commonwealth proudly regards its youth as its
4 most vital and valuable resource and remains committed to
5 promoting the health and well-being of its young people while
6 also helping them to realize and achieve their fullest human
7 potential; and
8 WHEREAS, The United States has the highest rates of teen
9 pregnancy and births in the western industrialized world; and
10 WHEREAS, Teen pregnancy costs the United States $7 billion
11 annually; and
12 WHEREAS, Every day in this Commonwealth, 60 teens become
13 pregnant; and
1 WHEREAS, Pregnant teens are less likely to stay in school
2 than nonpregnant teens; and
3 WHEREAS, Pregnant teens and their babies face serious health
4 risks and complications during delivery, while delayed
5 childbearing increases the likelihood of healthy babies and
6 preserves maternal and child health; and
7 WHEREAS, Teen pregnancy has a negative impact on teen
8 fathers, putting them at the same social, economic and emotional
9 disadvantages faced by teen mothers; and
10 WHEREAS, In 2001 teenage boys became fathers at the rate of
11 18.5 births per 1,000; and
12 WHEREAS, Teen fathers complete less school than young men who
13 postpone fatherhood until after they are 21 years of age; and
14 WHEREAS, Teenage boys are slightly more likely than teenage
15 girls to report feeling pressured to have sex and often receive
16 a different message about sex and pregnancy than teen girls; and
17 WHEREAS, The most important source of support for teen
18 mothers comes from their family of origin; and
19 WHEREAS, The parents, and often the grandparents, of a teen
20 face significant life transitions in the event of a teen
21 pregnancy; and
22 WHEREAS, The Commonwealth encourages its young people to
23 complete their education, to achieve independence and to become
24 productive and contributing members of society and recognizes
25 that teen pregnancy and childbearing may compromise these goals;
26 and
27 WHEREAS, Helping teens to avoid early and unintended
28 pregnancy will positively affect their social, physical,
29 emotional and financial well-being; and
30 WHEREAS, Raising awareness and understanding of this complex
20040H0680R3661 - 2 -
1 issue and the importance of helping teens avoid unintended
2 pregnancy can contribute to the future reduction of teen
3 pregnancy and help build a stronger and healthier Commonwealth;
4 therefore be it
5 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the
6 month of May 2004 as "Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month" in
7 Pennsylvania and encourage all citizens, including parent-
8 teacher organizations, women's organizations and other community
9 service organizations, to work within their communities to
10 increase awareness and understanding of teen pregnancy and to
11 help teens prevent too-early pregnancy and its detrimental
12 consequences.
B13L82DMS/20040H0680R3661 - 3 -