Howard Berman: “Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the International Protecting Girls By Preventing Child Marriage Act. Recently…”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the International Protecting Girls By Preventing Child Marriage Act. Recently, Nelson Mandela asked a group of the world's most thoughtful and experienced political and moral leaders to identify the largest issues fueling humanitarian problems, and forced child marriage is at the top of the list. Child marriage denies girls the chance to get a full education. Every country in the world that has advanced has educated their women as the first step. Child marriage prevents girls from contributing to their communities in the fullest way possible, and it contributes to the health crisis among women and babies in countries around the world. In the next 10 years, it's estimated that over 100 million young girls will be forcibly married if we don't act, and the policy of the United States right now is to write more reports. With this bill, we can make a huge difference with no additional taxpayer moneys being spent. This bill gives clear guidelines on how already-appropriated moneys are to be spent in countries with the greatest problems, in ways that are culturally sensitive and community-based. It requires the State Department to track the issue annually as part of our human rights considerations.”