Protecting Children from Foreign Mutilation Act

# Protecting Children from Foreign Mutilation Act (HR 6876) **What the Bill Would Do** This bill would make it illegal for parents or guardians to take children out of the United States for the purpose of subjecting them to female genital mutilation (FGM). It would also prohibit knowingly facilitating such travel. The legislation aims to close a potential legal gap by preventing "medical tourism" where families travel abroad to have procedures performed that would be illegal to perform on children in the U.S. **Who It Affects and Key Provisions** The bill would primarily affect families in communities where FGM is practiced. It creates federal criminal penalties for parents, guardians, or anyone else who knowingly transports a minor across U.S.

borders for this purpose. The law would apply regardless of whether FGM is legal in the destination country. Note that federal law already prohibits performing FGM on minors within the United States (since 1996). **Current Status** As of now, HR 6876 remains in committee and has not advanced to a floor vote. The bill is in the early stages of the legislative process.