Clinton Sponsors Bill To Fight Teenage Pregnancy

WASHINGTON - Senator Clinton, who has trumpeted her desire to seek "common ground" with the anti-abortion movement, planned to introduce legislation today to increase public funding for teaching teenagers to use condoms and providing "emergency contraception" to women who want it.

The move drew harsh rebukes from anti-abortion groups who oppose the use of public funds to teach teenagers about condom use, and who worry that the availability of so-called "morning-after pills" encourages risky behavior and may in some cases induce abortions.

"If she thinks this is common ground, it isn't," said the director of congressional relations for the conservative advocacy group the Family Research Council, Jayd Henricks.

The negative reaction highlights the challenge the junior New York senator faces in bridging the divide between anti-abortion and abortion-rights advocates, who agree on few things beyond the goal of preventing unwanted pregnancies. "We all want to prevent unintended pregnancy and abortion, but the policy of this legislation promotes the risky behavior that leads to sexually transmitted and unintended pregnancies," said Mr. Henricks.

Mrs. Clinton is expected to introduce an amendment called the "Prevention First Act" into budget legislation with the minority leader in the Senate, Senator Reid of Nevada.

The Reid/Clinton amendment would direct more public health funding for the promotion of emergency contraception, commonly known as morning-after pills, particularly to women who have been raped. It also would include funding for the expansion of programs that teach teenagers to avoid pregnancy and for family planning services for low-income women. Mrs. Clinton and Mr. Reid also want to require coverage for prescription contraceptives in otherwise comprehensive drug benefit plans.

Nearly half of the 6 million annual pregnancies in America are unintended, and nearly one-quarter end in abortion, according to congressional findings in the bill.

Abortion-rights advocates welcomed the legislation, which also has the support of senators including Senator Schumer and Senator Kerry of Massachusetts. "This common sense amendment is long overdue," said the director of the legislative office for the American Civil Liberties Union, Laura Murphy, who called on lawmakers of both parties to support the amendment.

"The federal government continues to pour money into unproven abstinence-only sex education programs and to put up roadblocks to contraceptive access. It is time to reverse course and put prevention first," Ms. Murphy said.

The ACLU called the amendment an "antidote" to decisions by the Bush administration.

Earlier this year, the Food and Drug Administration put off making a decision on whether to make emergency contraception available to women 16 and older without a prescription. The Justice Department issued guidelines for treating victims of sexual assault that did not include information about pregnancy prevention and emergency contraception.

During a speech in January to abortion rights advocates in Albany, Mrs. Clinton raised eyebrows by calling on both sides in the debate to find common ground on abortion, which she called "a sad, even tragic choice" for many women.

Mrs. Clinton spoke in favor of pregnancy prevention programs and the teaching of abstinence to teenagers.

The speech was interpreted as an olive-branch offering to social conservatives, in anticipation not only of Mrs. Clinton's 2006 Senate reelection bid, but also in preparation for a possible presidential run in 2008.

Anti-abortion groups said they have been disappointed with Mrs. Clinton's actions since her speech.

"Legislation going into condom-based sex education program is not common ground," said an analyst for sexual health at Focus on the Family, Linda Klepacki. The very name of the legislation "is a lie," according to Ms. Klepacki. "The name 'putting prevention first' is disguising a risk-reduction program as a risk-prevention program. That is a bait and switch," she said.

The senators assert in their legislation that in 2000, 51,000 abortions were prevented by the use of emergency contraception. The medication, taken within a day or two after intercourse, can prevent pregnancy by preventing ovulation, the fertilization of an egg, or the implantation of an egg in the uterus.

But Mr. Henricks said morning-after pills can encourage "risky behavior" by encouraging women and men to believe they can avoid pregnancy, and in some cases can cause an "abortion" by preventing a fertilized egg from becoming implanted.

He urged Mrs. Clinton to reach out to anti-abortion groups by proposing more money for pregnancy crisis centers that help women carry pregnancies to term and encourage adoption.