Summary#
This bill, the Real Education and Access for Healthy Youth Act of 2025, would fund and set rules for federal grants that provide sex education and sexual health services for young people. The grants would support sex education in elementary and secondary schools, at colleges and universities, educator training, and delivery of youth-friendly sexual health services to underserved young people. The bill defines key terms (for example, "young people" means ages 10 through 29) and requires programs to be evidence-informed, medically accurate and complete, age- and developmentally-appropriate, culturally responsive, trauma-informed, and confidential. Grants would last up to 5 years. The bill also requires annual reporting to Congress, a multi-year independent evaluation, a nondiscrimination rule, and limits on how funds may be used (for example, funds may not be used for medically inaccurate programs or programs that withhold health-promoting information). It authorizes appropriations and transfers unused abstinence-only-until-marriage program funds to carry out this Act and repeals that abstinence-only program.
What it means for you#
- Students and young people: More federal-funded programs could offer comprehensive sex education and easier access to sexual health services. "Young people" in projects can be ages 10–29.
- Educators and schools: Schools, school districts, colleges, and youth-serving organizations can apply for competitive grants to add or improve sex education, train staff, or link students to services.
- Underserved communities: The bill prioritizes work that serves groups identified as underserved, including many racial and ethnic groups, LGBTQ+ youth, youth in foster care or juvenile justice, youth experiencing homelessness, young parents, youth living with disabilities, and others.
- Health services: Grants may fund services such as contraception (including all FDA-approved methods), HPV vaccines and cancer screenings, HIV prevention medicines (PrEP and PEP), counseling, and services for survivors of interpersonal violence.
- Privacy and inclusion: Programs must be confidential, inclusive of different genders and sexual orientations, and non-discriminatory.
Expenses#
- The bill authorizes $100,000,000 for each fiscal year 2026 through 2031. These amounts "shall remain available until expended."
- The Secretary must reserve portions of annual appropriations among program areas: up to 30% for elementary and secondary and youth-serving organizations, up to 10% for institutions of higher education, up to 15% for educator training, up to 30% for sexual health services for underserved youth, and at least 5% for reporting and evaluation. At least 10% must be set aside for research, training, and technical assistance.
- The bill directs the unobligated balance of funds from the previous abstinence-only program to be transferred to carry out this Act and repeals that abstinence-only program.
- No publicly available information on total federal budget impact beyond the authorized amounts and transfers is included in the provided text.
Proponents' View#
Proponents say the bill will give young people the right to accurate, complete, and inclusive information about sexual health and relationships. The bill's findings emphasize that many young people currently do not receive comprehensive or culturally responsive education, that underserved groups face inequities, and that programs should aim to redress those harms. Supporters point to the need for evidence-informed teaching, training for educators, and better access to youth-friendly sexual health services.
Opponents' View#
No publicly available information.