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104TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 941
To amend title 18, United States Code, to carry out certain obligations
of the United States under the International Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights by prohibiting the practice of female circumcision, and
for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
FEBRUARY 14, 1995
Mrs. SCHROEDER (for herself, Miss COLLINS of Michigan, Mrs. MORELLA,
and Ms. RIVERS) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on the Judiciary and, in addition, to the Committee on Com-
merce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in
each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdic-
tion of the committee concerned
A BILL
To amend title 18, United States Code, to carry out certain
obligations of the United States under the International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights by prohibiting
the practice of female circumcision, and for other pur-
poses.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Federal Prohibition
of Female Genital Mutilation Act of 1995’’.
SEC. 2. TITLE 18 AMENDMENT.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 7 of title 18, United
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the follow-
ing new section:
‘‘§ 116. Female genital mutilation
‘‘(a) Except as provided in subsection (b), whoever
knowingly circumcises, excises, or infibulates the whole or
any part of the labia majora or labia minora or clitoris
of another person who has not attained the age of 18 years
shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than
5 years, or both.
‘‘(b) A surgical operation is not a violation of this
section if the operation is—
‘‘(1) necessary to the health of the person on
whom it is performed, and is performed by a person
licensed in the place of its performance as a medical
practitioner; or
‘‘(2) performed on a person in labor or who has
just given birth and is performed for medical pur-
poses connected with that labor or birth by a person
licensed in the place it is performed as a medical
practitioner, midwife, or person in training to be-
come such a practitioner or midwife.
‘‘(c) In applying subsection (b)(1), no account shall
be taken of the effect on the person on whom the operation
is to be performed of any belief on the part of that or
any other person that the operation is required as a mat-
ter of custom or ritual.
‘‘(d) Whoever knowingly denies to any person medical
care or services or otherwise discriminates against any
person in the provision of medical care or services, be-
cause—
‘‘(1) that person has undergone female cir-
cumcision, excision, or infibulation; or
‘‘(2) that person has requested that female cir-
cumcision, excision, or infibulation be performed on
any person;
shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than
one year, or both.’’.
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections
at the beginning of chapter 7 of title 18, United States
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new
item:
‘‘116. Female genital mutilation.’’.
SEC. 3. INFORMATION AND EDUCATION REGARDING FE-
MALE GENITAL MUTILATION.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Health and
Human Services shall do the following:
(1) Compile data on the number of females liv-
ing in the United States who have been subjected to
female genital mutilation (whether in the United
States or in their countries of origin), including a
specification of the number of girls under the age of
18 who have been subjected to such mutilation.
(2) Identify communities in the United States
that practice female genital mutilation, and design
and carry out outreach activities to educate individ-
uals in the communities on the physical and psycho-
logical health effects of such practice. Such outreach
activities shall be designed and implemented in col-
laboration with representatives of the ethnic groups
practicing such mutilation and with representatives
of organizations with expertise in preventing such
practice.
(3) Develop recommendations for the education
of students of schools of medicine and osteopathic
medicine regarding female genital mutilation and
complications arising from such mutilation. Such
recommendations shall be disseminated to such
schools.
(b) DEFINITION.—For purposes of this section, the
term ‘‘female genital mutilation’’ means the removal or
infibulation (or both) of the whole or part of the clitoris,
the labia minor, or the labia major.
SEC. 4. EFFECTIVE DATES.
Section 3 of this Act shall take effect immediately,
and the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall
commence carrying it out not later than 90 days after the
date of the enactment of this Act. Section 2 of this Act
shall take effect 180 days after the date of the enactment
of this Act.
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