Amendments
2013—Subsec. (d). [Pub. L. 112–239] added subsec. (d).
Effective Date
[Pub. L. 104–208, div. C, title VI, § 645(c)], Sept. 30, 1996, [110 Stat. 3009–709], provided that: “The amendments made by subsection (b) [enacting this section] shall take effect on the date that is 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Sept. 30, 1996].”
Congressional Findings
[Pub. L. 104–208, div. C, title VI, § 645(a)], Sept. 30, 1996, [110 Stat. 3009–708], provided that: “The Congress finds that—“(1) the practice of female genital mutilation is carried out by members of certain cultural and religious groups within the United States;“(2) the practice of female genital mutilation often results in the occurrence of physical and psychological health effects that harm the women involved;“(3) such mutilation infringes upon the guarantees of rights secured by Federal and State law, both statutory and constitutional;“(4) the unique circumstances surrounding the practice of female genital mutilation place it beyond the ability of any single State or local jurisdiction to control;“(5) the practice of female genital mutilation can be prohibited without abridging the exercise of any rights guaranteed under the first amendment to the Constitution or under any other law; and“(6) Congress has the affirmative power under section 8 of article I, the necessary and proper clause, section 5 of the fourteenth Amendment, as well as under the treaty clause, to the Constitution to enact such legislation.”