[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 181 (Tuesday, November 29, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7996-S7997]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

      By Mr. REID:

[[Page S7997]]

  S. 1919. A bill to amend title 18, United States Code, to provide 
penalties for transporting minors in foreign commerce for the purposes 
of female genital mutilation; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Girls' 
Protection Act of 2011. This legislation addresses a topic that is 
difficult to talk about. It deals with the issue of female genital 
mutilation, FGM, a harmful cultural ritual with origins in Africa, Asia 
and the Middle East, that involves the removal of part or all of female 
genitalia.
  FGM has no medical justification and is not based in religious 
beliefs. In fact, FGM, which is usually carried out on young girls 
sometime between infancy and fifteen years of age, can cause lifelong 
physical and psychological damage. The procedure is typically performed 
without an anesthetic and can cause bleeding, shock, infections and 
even death because of hemorrhage and unhygienic conditions. Lifelong 
health consequences include chronic infection, complications during 
pregnancy and labor, as well as severe pain during urination, 
menstruation, and sexual intercourse. This cruel procedure has been 
internationally recognized as a violation of the human rights of girls 
and women.
  I first learned about FGM in 1994 when I read an article reporting 
the arrest of two men in Egypt who arranged for the filming of this 
appalling ritual procedure being performed on a ten year-old girl. 
Although this ritual is predominately practiced in various parts of 
Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, some ethnic communities in the 
United States continue to subject young girls to FGM. This compelled me 
to introduce legislation, which was enacted in 1996, that criminalizes 
the practice of FGM on girls under the age of 18 in the United States. 
The legislation I am introducing today seeks to strengthen this law by 
closing what is known as a ``vacation loophole'' by banning the act of 
transporting girls overseas to be subject to FGM.
  While it is difficult to know precisely how many girls in the United 
States are at risk of being subject to FGM, estimates from various 
sources suggest that approximately 200,000 women living in the United 
States have been, or are at risk, of being subject to FGM. Enactment of 
The Girls Protection Act would help to better protect these girls by 
serving as a deterrent for those parents who are considering sending 
their young girls to their home countries to undergo FGM.
  I am introducing The Girls' Protection Act today in honor of 
International Human Rights Defenders Day as well as the recognition of 
the Sixteen Days of Activism Against Gender Violence which occurs 
between November 25 and December 10 of each year. It is important to 
honor those individuals who are working, often under difficult 
circumstances and hostile social environments, for the advancement of 
women's health, dignity and human rights. The passage of this 
legislation would go a long way to support these efforts and to help 
end this degrading and inhumane practice.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 1919

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Girls Protection Act of 
     2011''.

     SEC. 2. TRANSPORT FOR FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION.

       Section 116 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by 
     adding at the end the following:
       ``(d) Whoever knowingly transports from the United States 
     and its territories a person in foreign commerce for the 
     purpose of conduct with regard to that person that would be a 
     violation of subsection (a) if the conduct occurred within 
     the United States, or attempts to do so, shall be fined under 
     this title or imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both.''.

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