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The abstinence-only-until-marriage program was created in 1997 by the federal government's welfare law. Debates relating to various aspects of the programs are reviewed, particularly with regard to intended audience, key messages and media campaigns. There are 698 abstinence promotion grants for community-based organizations and education agencies following the infusion of program funds, and there are 21 new abstinence media campaigns.

The federal Maternal and Child Health Bureau has received 48 state applications for the implementation of abstinence-only-until-marriage education programs. Most of the states target the youth, particularly, those under 14 years of age, while others target the young adolescents. Local governments plan to implement the program together with other in-state teen pregnancy, health/education and youth agencies.

The Internet is a useful tool for supporters of comprehensive sexuality education and political activists. Web sites offer access to university and public libraries, enabling users to search for information beyond their local communities and obtain up-to-date government research data. Activists can search for data to support their presentations and follow federal legislation, with the views of opponents also accessible. Web sites are operated by most federal government agencies, enabling users to develop strategies for impacting federal program funding and administration.

The passage of welfare reform legislation, which supports abstinence-only education programs, is the greatest attack on the provision of comprehensive sexuality education. The Far Right has exerted efforts to include the abstinence-only education provision in the welfare reform legislation. However, analysis of the statute reveals that it has serious flaws because it is not based on facts and does not have a clear definition of many critical concepts such as sexual activity. Furthermore, there are no studies that support the claim that abstinence-only programs are effective.

The Christian Coalition has begun lobbying for its 'Contract with the American Family,' a thinly veiled attack on sexual and personal freedom that would require repealing parts of the constitution. Observers feel that four points from ten points in the agenda will infringe on the individual sex rights of Americans. The coalition hopes to achieve its abortion-ending goals and the removal of the social safety net through financial restrictions, withholding health care statistics, regulating freedom of speech and shelving provisions of legal protection for minors and the poor. Eighty christian leaders have challenged the agenda through 'A Cry for Renewal' proposal, and have proposed more humane solutions to the problem of teen pregnancy.

The passage of the Communications Decency Act (CDA) which is part of the Telecommunications Reform Act of 1996 deals a severe blow to free speech. Provisions of the CDA include a $250,000 to $500,000 fine for television and cable companies that broadcast obscene materials and the required scrambling of video and audio portions of adult channels. The law also bans obscene communications over the telephone and computer.

An analysis of sexuality education is based on answers to questions about the content, effectiveness and implementability of two kinds of school-based programs. Only the comprehensive approach has helped youngsters to postpone sexual intercourse, to use contraception, and prevent sexually transmitted diseases. The community and national organizations regulate the content of the programs, including abstinence-only, depending on the age-level of the students. Sexuality education is a continuous process of acquiring information and forming attitudes and values about relationships.

Opponents of sex education participated in a 1995 congressional hearing, and their testimony lacked credibility. Progress in the areas of AIDS prevention and helping young people cope with matters such as sexual orientation is more likely to be made now that those who oppose discussion of such issues in schools have made their lack of a cogent argument apparent. Summaries of the testimony of several participants of the hearing are presented, along with a look toward the future.

The 104th Congress is seeking to end the federal government's non-involvement in sexuality education. Although there are two existing federal education laws that prevent the government from influencing the content of sexuality education classes, legislators are trying their best to become involved in the discussion of sexuality issues. One of the ways that they are increasingly using to achieve this objective is to exercise their legal right to control the funding of sexuality education programs.

The 1995 summer session of Congress is marked by the attack on abortion rights, sexual orientation rights and pregnancy rights. The attack has been on minority Americans such as low-income groups, youth, gays, lesbians and artists. The House Judiciary Committee passed the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act of 1995 according to which evacuation abortion and intact dilation are illegal.

Leadership by conservative Republicans in Congress will pose a threat to sexuality-related services by introducing social conservatism into social policy. By decreasing federal programs, these services will be affected. These services will also be affected by the proposed replacement of the federal programs by block grants whose allotment is decided by the state government. It is important that people in favour of sexuality-related services air their views in the Congress.

Advocates of sexual rights and sexual health need to strive hard to prevent the passage of government policy which could lay strictures on the sexuality of individual citizens, thereby hindering their growth in stature. The Republican majority in the Congress has ushered in conservative trends toward issues such as gay rights, thereby revealing the need for sexual rights professionals to clamor for a well-defined funding formula, accessibility to basic sexuality education and enhanced public assistance and sexual health service facilities.

The media's portrayal of sexuality has made it the prime target of debates over censorship policies in the US. Research has shown that most of the adolescents obtain lessons on sexuality from their schools and media and not from their parents. Media has its own laws determining the amount of sexual matters that can be depicted, which are often flexible. The media should concentrate on presenting diverse and positive sexual images and the public should be media-literate to understand them.

The results of 1996 US elections fail to support radical reforms regarding sexuality due to a moderate, centrist political climate. While less than half of the American voter population managed to exercise its franchise, the results show a divided government consisting of Democratic President and a Republican Congress. Although the Congress passed strictures on late-term abortion and same-sex marriages, most of the sexuality issues were avoided in the campaigns. However, noncontroversial issues of sexual rights and sexual health services are likely to come up due to popular support.