Bill banning female genital mutilation headed to Gov. Tom Wolf’s desk | Friday Morning Coffee

Good Friday Morning, Fellow Seekers.

Legislation that could spare more than 19,000 women across Pennsylvania from the practice known as “female genital mutilation” is headed to Gov. Tom Wolf’s desk.

The state Senate gave its final, unanimous approval Wednesday to the legislation sponsored by Rep. Tom Murt, R-Montgomery, banning the practice, and punish violators with a first-degree felony.

In a Jan. 16 memo seeking co-sponsors for his proposal, Murt, of Hatboro, described the practice, which  “involves the non-medical and non-necessary cutting of the female genitalia.

“FGM is a coming-of-age ritual in various parts of Africa, Asia and the Middle East. FGM is usually carried out on young girls between infancy and 15; thus meaning that the procedure is carried out on young girls with no choice. According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 140 million women and children worldwide have been affected by female genital cutting or FGM,” the memo continues.

“However, according to the African Women’s Health Center at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, it is estimated that 228,000 women in the United States have been cut because they come from a community where this practice is common,” Murt wrote.

“Not only is this practice taking place in Pennsylvania, it is actually on this rise,” he added.

In a statement, a national advocacy group called the  EndFGMToday campaign credited Murt and Rep. Donna Bullock, D-Philadelphia, for their work on the issue, as well as U.S. Rep. Scott Perry, R-10th District, who has urged the  legislation’s passage into law.

The organization “applauds Pennsylvania lawmakers who stood up for women and girls with the passage of this important bill,” its head, Elizabeth Yore, said in a statement. “FGM is child abuse. In fact, the CDC estimates that 513,000 girls are at risk of FGM in the United States, and Pennsylvania ranks 11th for FGM risk among all states. Soon, females at risk for this brutal procedure will be free from the horror of female genital mutilation.”

Citing data by the Population Reference Bureau, “more than 19,000 women and girls in Pennsylvania are at risk for FGM, ranking it 11th in the nation, Yore noted. Furthermore, the PRB found that the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA/NJ/DE; Harrisburg-Carlisle; and Pittsburgh regions of Pennsylvania are also top metropolitan areas in the nation for FGM risk,” Yore’s group said in its statement.

When Gov. Tom Wolf signs it into law, Pennsylvania will become the 33rd state in the country to ban female genital mutilation, Yore said.

In a statement, Murt called the bill’s final passage a “major victory for the women of Pennsylvania. 

“I want to thank my colleagues in both the House and Senate for taking this strong and unified stand for the right to be safe from this kind of abuse. FGM is a crime of violence against women. With Gov. Tom Wolf’s signature the law will explicitly state that,” he said.

Our Stuff.
Here’s our look at the challenges facing President Donald Trump in Pennsylvania as he launches his 2020 re-election campaign.

Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro has joined with 21 of his colleagues nationwide to call on the U.S. Senate to pass a bill aimed at shoring up election security in 2020.

Elsewhere.
An explosion triggered a major fire at a Philadelphia refinery, The Inquirerreports.
PennLive looks back at a summer of racial unrest in Harrisburg in 1969.
Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto is defending the city’s refugee community after a Syrian man was arrested and charged with plotting to blow up a church, The Post-Gazette reports.
The suspect in the alleged bombing plot had ‘several targets,’ police tell the Tribune-Review.
An Allentown man has been arrested in a shooting that wounded 10 people on Hamilton Street in the city, the Morning Call reports.

Here’s your #Pennsylvania Instagram of the Day:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BwIOYZqHKgo/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

WHYY-FM has what’s known (and not) about that South Philly refinery fire.
The PA Post has highlights from a recent ‘Ask Gov. Wolf’ segment on state NPR stations.
Former Philly city official, and onetime LG candidate, Nina Ahmad has her eye on a Democratic bid for auditor general, PoliticsPA reports.
More than 70 U.S. House Democrats are now onboard for impeachment, but Speaker Nancy Pelosi remains unmoved, Politico reports.
Should Capitol Hill staffers earn more? That’s currently a debate in Congress,Roll Call reports.

WolfWatch.
Gov. Tom Wolf has no public schedule today.

Heavy Rotation.
Okay, so how do we say no to this one? Here’s a classic from Heavy D. & the Boys. It’s ‘Now That We Found Love.” Turn it up. Dance around your office.

Friday’s Gratuitous Baseball Link.
Baltimore dropped a 5-2 decision to Seattle late Thursday.

And now you’re up to date.