New studies show that 1 in 4 teenage girls has a sexually transmitted infection (STI). In New York, 40,000 teens will become pregnant this year.

New York currently has no designated funding for comprehensive sex education in our schools, although New York’s rates of unintended teen pregnancy and STIs are among the highest in the country. We need to give our teens age-appropriate and accurate sex-ed so that they can make healthy decisions for themselves.

The Healthy Teens Act (S.1342) can make this happen.

If this bill is passed, school districts, BOCES, school-based health centers and community-based organizations would be able to apply for grants to create and implement programs that will give New York students real sex ed.

The New York State Assembly has passed the Healthy Teens Act four years in a row with strong bi-partisan support. It’s time to get our Senate on board. Send a letter to your senator today and urge them to support the Healthy Teens Act.