Letter to the Hon. Tom Price, Secretary of Health and Human Services - Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program Funding

Letter

Dear Secretary Price:

We write in response to concerning reports that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has cut short the grant awards for the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program (TPPP) and notified the grantees that their year three funding (supported by fiscal year 2017 appropriated funds) would be the final year of their projects, despite originally being granted five-year project periods, and despite the fact that Congress has yet to complete its work for fiscal year 2018 appropriations.

The TPPP is a pioneering example of evidence-based policymaking and represents an important contribution to building a body of evidence of effective strategies to prevent teen pregnancy. This includes high-quality implementation, evaluation, innovation, and learning from results. Since the TPPP was established in 2010, teen childbearing has fallen by 41 percent nationwide, a decline more than double any other six-year period since teen births peaked in 1991. It is clear that the pace of progress has accelerated dramatically since the federal commitment to evidence-based teen pregnancy prevention began.

As members of the Texas delegation, we have a special nexus to the TPPP as it is critical for our state's population. Data indicates that Texas has one of the highest rates of teen pregnancy in the nation, resulting in significant costs to the state: in 2010, the public cost of teen childbearing in Texas was $1.1 billion. Therefore, it is imperative that this program continue in order to be sure that our children receive the instruction they need to reduce teen births.

We would appreciate a written response to the following questions in order to advise Texas TPPP grantees going forward:

1. Who made the decision to shorten the TPPP grant awards by two years? What was the justification behind this decision?
2. Congress has yet to act on the fiscal year 2018 budget. What will happen if Congress appropriates TPPP funding for fiscal year 2018? Will current TPPP grantees be allowed to continue their projects?
3. If not, what does HHS plan to do with fiscal year 2018 funding?

Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter. The health and well-being of our youth depends on the evidenced-based work TPPP grantees are doing across Texas and the nation.