Political Quotes

“over the years, I have come to the Senate floor on many occasions to talk about female genital mutilation (FGM). Still, it is very difficult for me to stand here and talk about something as repulsive, as cruel and as unusual as the practice of FGM. But ignoring this issue because of the discomfort it causes us does nothing but perpetuate the silent acquiescence of its practice. For those who are unfamiliar with this ritual, FGM is the cutting away of the female genitals and then sewing up the opening, leaving only a small hole for urine and menstrual flow. In many cases, the girl's legs are bound together for weeks while a permanent scar forms. It is performed on girls between the ages of 4 and 12. This is a practice that has been around for thousands of years and is not going to go away overnight. We need to continue to talk about it and insist upon aggressive education of the African communities that practice it, as well as the implementation of laws prohibiting it. Several years ago, I passed legislation that requires the Health and Human Services Secretary to identify and compile data on immigrant communities in the United States who are practicing FGM. I worked to pass legislation, that is now law, to make criminal the practice of FGM in the United States. I have offered two amendments that would keep the United States focused on its work to eliminate FGM abroad.”