More than $17.1 million in new grants to help 49 communities develop and implement abstinence-only education programs for young people age 12 to 18. "In preventing so many of today’s sexual health problems, it is clear that choosing abstinence is the surest protection vs. disease & unintended pregnancy," Secretary Thompson said. The new awards are called SPRANS Community Based Abstinence Education Grants.[UPI; July 6, 2001; Infonet]