Bill calls for strategy against female genital mutilation

Two House Democrats have introduced a measure directing the federal government to craft a national strategy to protect girls from female genital mutilation.

The bill offered by Democratic Reps. Joe Crowley (N.Y.) and Sheila Jackson Lee (Texas) addresses the issue of female gentile mutilation (FGM) in the United States, not just abroad.

{mosads}The two lawmakers said their proposal would help start a policy discussion about how to prevent the practice, which is illegal in the U.S.

“FGM isn’t an issue that only affects the far corners of the globe – it is a terrifying practice being faced by girls right here on our own soil,” Crowley said in a statement. “This is a serious issue that deserves a serious effort, and a national strategy is the next step in helping to bring an end to FGM once and for all.”

The measure would require the federal government to conduct a national study collecting data on the frequency of FGM in the U.S. It would further direct the government to create a strategy spanning across multiple agencies, such as an emergency hotline and a public awareness campaign.

“In order to improve efforts to protect these little girls, we must know the facts about FGM in the United States,” Jackson Lee said.