Sheila Jackson Lee: “I am reminded of the story of Hadiatu Jalloh, a 7-year-old from Sierra Leone who, with her mother, fled to Houston to…”

“I am reminded of the story of Hadiatu Jalloh, a 7-year-old from Sierra Leone who, with her mother, fled to Houston to seek a lifesaving operation to rectify complications from the practice of female genital mutilation, from which she suffered for more than a year. This story reads: ``The Woman's Hospital of Texas Saves an African Girl's Life. Dr. Susan Hardwick-Smith and Dr. Eric Jones Provide Lifesaving Care to 7-year-old Affected by Female Genital Mutilation,'' only one of 200 million girls. This amendment will focus and provide an extra focus and extra resources to have us be reminded to help these young women, girls, across and around the world. Let us give them a lifesaving hand up. I ask my colleagues to support the Jackson Lee amendment, lifesaving, so that more girls do not have to get this singular help from a singular hospital, but they can be helped at home because this dastardly act will be stopped. Mr. Chair, I include a statement in the Record from USAID, and I ask for support of my amendment. [From the Department of State and USAID] The U.S. Government Working Together for the Abandonment of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting Female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) is a traditional practice that ranges from nicking to total removal of the external female genitalia. UNICEF estimates that at least 120 million girls and women have experienced FGM/C in the 29 countries in Africa and the Middle East where the practice is concentrated.…”