[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 112 (Monday, July 8, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E698]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     DEPARTMENT OF STATE, FOREIGN OPERATIONS, AND RELATED PROGRAMS 
                        APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2025

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                            HON. GWEN MOORE

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 26, 2024

  Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin. Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of my 
amendment No. 44--which has been included in the En Bloc amendment--to 
help ensure that the U.S. remains focused on helping to end female 
genital mutilation around the world at a time when some countries are 
considering repealing existing bans.
  Female genital mutilation (FGM) involves procedures that alter or 
injure the female genitalia for non-medical reasons and is recognized 
internationally as a violation of the human rights of girls and women.
  As the person who led efforts to outlaw female genital mutilation in 
the State of Wisconsin, I am too keenly aware that this remains a 
pressing issue.
  More than 200 million girls and women alive today have undergone 
female genital mutilation. And it is estimated that 4.4 million girls 
are at risk of experiencing this harmful practice this year alone.
  This is a practice that has no health benefits but harms girls and 
women.
  I share concerns that have been raised about the overall funding 
levels in this bill that have been so well articulated and the deep 
cuts to a range of programs that are vital to our Nation's interest and 
national security efforts.
  I am also troubled by a number of policy riders that have been 
inserted into this bill. The bill defunds agencies like the UN 
Children's Fund (UNICEF) that have been working to address female 
genital mutilation for years. Agencies like the United Nations 
Population Fund (UNFPA) that have also been engaged in helping to move 
the world towards the elimination of this practice. The Department of 
State has annually provided about $5 million to UNICEF to support a 
Joint Programme on the Elimination of Female Genital Mutilation.
  While we have not yet eliminated the practice of FGM, our investments 
and those of our international partners have seen results. As noted by 
the UN, over the last three decades, the prevalence of FGM has declined 
globally.
  It wasn't by accident.
  It took hard work by dedicated partners at all levels from the 
international community to the local community working to reframe laws 
and attitudes.
  But the work must continue.
  For example, the parliament in The Gambia is considering repealing 
the FGM ban enacted in that country in 2015.
  The repeal campaign began after the government dared to actually 
enforce the law a few years ago.
  Overall, there is concern that if The Gambia repeals its law, this 
could inspire other countries to do likewise.
  But more importantly, is what it would mean for the women and girls 
in Gambia, where some estimated that up to three-quarters of the women 
and girls have undergone the procedure.
  In February of this year, when the world commemorated the 
International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation, our 
Secretary of State Antony Blinken said, ``FGM, in all forms, is a Human 
rights abuse that harms all women.''
  We cannot rollback the U.S. commitment to ending this human rights 
abuse and that includes ensuring that we adequately fund these efforts.
  Our commitment to eliminating FGM--working with international 
organizations, such as UNICEF and UNFPA, coUntries, survivors, and 
other stakeholders--will only go as deep as our resources take it. My 
amendment would send a message that we still think this is important 
even in a bill that makes harmful cuts across the board to development, 
diplomacy, and humanitarian assistance.
  I urge support.

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