Franson Statement on Congress Passing the Stop Female Genital Mutilation Act
SAINT PAUL, MN – Rep. Mary Franson, R-Alexandria, released the following statement Friday after Congress passed the Stop Female Genital Mutilation Act:
“I am so pleased that Congress passed the Stop Female Mutilation Act. As a tireless advocate for the safety of women and young girls, I have worked so hard in Minnesota to end this abusive practice. I will never stop fighting for women’s health and their dignity.”
Franson led the charge to end female genital mutilation (FGM) twice in the Minnesota House. In 2017, the bill passed under Republican control of the House, but died in the Senate. Legislation failed in 2019 with DFL control.
FGM is the practice of cutting or removing such body parts for nonmedical purposes. The Stop Female Genital Mutilation Act bans the practice under the Constitution’s commerce clause and provides a penalty of 10 years for those who perform it.