On the recordDecember 5, 2017
Again, let me thank the gentleman from Florida for managing and joining me in the managing of this legislation, and, again, I thank the cosponsors. Let me also express my appreciation to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Trott) for his service to this Congress and, as well, for his excellent bill that is on the floor. I thank the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney), as well, for her leadership on this legislation. I think it is important to note that these are dastardly acts against women and girls; and as I indicated, across the world, we are talking about 140 million women and 100 million girls who have been subjected to living with the consequences of the FGM. It was banned in the United States since 1996, but we know this act still goes on. So we must do everything we can to protect victims, particularly the most vulnerable people in our society: our children. This is not a mandatory minimum. This is upwards of 15 years. This is a deserving penalty for a horrific crime. This bill will certainly do that to try to protect these children here in the United States. Beyond serving as a deterrent for many in our society who continue to engage in the practice of female genital mutilation, this legislation will also provide appropriate punishment for violation of the FGM statute under 18 U.S.C. 116. For all these reasons, I ask my colleagues to support this bill. I yield back the balance of my time.
