[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 167 (Thursday, December 16, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2160]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




INTERNATIONAL PROTECTING GIRLS BY PREVENTING CHILD MARRIAGE ACT OF 2010

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                               speech of

                  HON. HENRY C. ``HANK'' JOHNSON, JR.

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 15, 2010

  Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 
987, legislation that would authorize the United States to provide 
assistance for the prevention of child marriage in the developing 
world. Regrettably, child marriage continues to be an all-too-common 
practice in many third-world countries. We as a nation have a moral 
obligation to do all that we can to assist with the prevention of this 
deplorable custom. Marrying before puberty or during early to mid-
adolescence places young women in dire circumstances--where they face 
severe health risks in pregnancy and childbirth, where they are trapped 
in positions of complete dependence and where they are subjected to 
verbal and physical abuse at the hands of their spouses. It is 
imperative for the United States to take a strong stance against this 
practice by investing in efforts to prevent child marriage and empower 
susceptible young women in these developing nations.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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