Washington D.C., Mar 11, 2009 / 07:51 am (CNA)

On Wednesday the National Abstinence Education Association (NAEA) is sponsoring Abstinence Day on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. by bringing nearly 500 teens to the U.S. Capitol.

The NAEA reported in a statement that the diverse group of teens will describe the positive benefit that abstinence education has made in their lives and to ask lawmakers and the White House to continue funding such programs.

Abstinence Day events include meeting with Congressional Offices, attending a youth-centered workshop and participating in an event designed to encourage peer-to-peer support of abstinence as the best choice.

“This is the ultimate Yes We Can message,” said one teen who registered for the event. “I hope our
voices will be heard.”

Valerie Huber, Executive Director of NAEA, said the teens constituted the organization’s “largest group ever.”

“We knew that this message resonated with teens, but this response has been overwhelming and indicates the strong support abstinence education has among American youth, schools and parents.”

The NAEA web site is located at www.abstinenceassociation.org