Political Quotes

“Over 100 million women and girls have been mutilated by this procedure in the world. Six-thousand each day are mutilated--7 days a week, 365 days a year. Most girls, of course, are too young or do not have the means to flee. Mr. President, 3 years ago, Canada made female genital mutilation a basis for asylum. Since that time, two women have been granted asylum for that reason. So for us to think this is going to open the floodgates for people seeking asylum on that basis, it will not happen. Remember, most of the people upon whom this procedure is performed are little girls. So we do not have to fear a wave of immigrants coming and claiming this as a basis for their coming here. But the United States must take a stand and speak out against this horrid practice. We must make it illegal and recognize it as basis for asylum. I ask for the yeas and nays on this amendment.”