Prepared Remarks of Dennis Williams
Deputy Administrator, Health Resources and Services Administration
Washington, D.C.
November 18, 2002
Good morning and welcome. Thank you for this opportunity to share my
thoughts on how critically important it is for us to continue working
together to promote healthy productive futures for our young people.
Because of your tireless effort in your own communities, the SPRANS
Abstinence Education program is off the ground and making an impact
all across the Nation. For the teens you serve, your work is invaluable.
And we at HRSA are proud to call you partners.
We are also fortunate that we have such passionate support from Secretary
Thompson for the work we do to support adolescents in their decision
to remain abstinent until marriage.
As you will hear later from our guest speaker HHS Deputy Secretary
Claude Allen, the entire Department is committed to identifying and
developing effective program strategies to help our youth make the kinds
of choices that lead to the bright futures they all deserve.
In fiscal year 2002, HRSA awarded approximately $20 million in new
SPRANS Community-Based Abstinence Education Project Grants to public
and private entities such as community-based organizations, faith-based
organizations, hospitals, health centers, school systems and youth service
agencies.
The President’s proposed budget for the SPRANS Community-Based
Abstinence Education Grant Program in FY 2003 includes a $33 million
increase over FY 2002 funding levels. The President’s proposed
FY 2003 budget also includes $50 million in mandatory grants to States
and jurisdictions to promote abstinence education under the Section
510 Abstinence Education Grant program.
If the proposed funding level is approved by Congress, HRSA looks forward
to funding up to 90 new projects in FY 2003. These increases are a direct
result of the outstanding effort you all are
already putting forth out there in your own neighborhoods.
In all that we do at HRSA, the bottom line is clear. We want to encourage
innovation and new ways of thinking. We urge coordination and collaboration
that cut across traditional boundaries. And we believe that partnerships
are the very best way to create healthier families and communities.
Working together, I believe we can do an even better job of educating
our young people about the consequences of sexual activity and out-of-wedlock
child bearing. I congratulate you on the many innovative programs you
have underway. At HRSA, we welcome your partnership as we move forward
to educate youth about the risks of out-of-wedlock sexual activity.
Thanks again for coming today and for being a part of the intensive
and beneficial learning experience this annual meeting provides. It
is my pleasure now to introduce to you the Deputy Secretary for HHS,
Claude Allen.
Deputy Secretary Allen works very closely with Secretary Tommy Thompson
on all major policy and management issues. He also serves as the department’s
chief operating officer. As some of you know, last year, he was the
voice of reason during the period of anxiety and fear that followed
the spate of anthrax attacks. As a result, he leads the Department’s
current effort to protect the Nation against bioterrorism.
He also is strongly committed to bridging the health disparities gap
in the Nation and provides us great leadership in this area.
Claude Allen has dedicated much of his professional life to public
service. Prior to joining HHS, he was Virginia’s Secretary of Health
and Human Resources, in charge of 13 agencies and 15,000 employees.
He led then-Governor Gilmore’s initiative for a Virginia Patient’s
Bill of Rights in 1999, allowing patient appeals for adverse coverage
decisions made by health plans, and direct access to physician specialists.
He also spearheaded Virginia’s welfare reform initiative and provided
leadership to overhaul the state’s mental health institutions and
community services.
Additionally, he was responsible for implementing the Governor’s
private health insurance program for children and families, offering
lower-cost coverage options to thousands of uninsured Virginians.
As you can see, he brings a great deal of experience and wisdom to
his work on behalf of Secretary Thompson, the HHS family, and the entire
Nation. We are fortunate today to have him share his insights on the
abstinence movement that is taking root in communities all across America.
Now enough from me. I am honored to introduce to you HHS Deputy Secretary
Claude Allen.
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