PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Read twice and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Oct 5, 1994
Federal Prohibition of Female Genital Mutilation Act of 1994 - Amends the Federal criminal code to prohibit and set penalties for knowingly circumcising, excising, or infibulating any part of the labia majora, labia minora, or clitoris of a female (female circumcision) under age 18, except where: (1) necessary to the health of the person when performed by a licensed medical practitioner; or (2) performed on a person in labor or who has just given birth for connected medical purposes by a licensed medical practitioner, midwife, or person in training. Sets penalties for knowingly denying medical care or services or otherwise discriminating in the provision of medical care or services to, any person because that person has: (1) undergone female circumcision; or (2) requested that female circumcision be performed on any person. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to ensure that the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Women's Health and the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Minority Health collaborate in: (1) compiling data on the number of females living in the United States, including, specifically, the number of girls under age 18, who have been subjected to female genital mutilation (mutilation); (2) identifying communities in the United States that practice mutilation; (3) designing and carrying out outreach activities to educate individuals in the communities on the physical and psychological health effects of such practice; and (4) developing recommendations for dissemination to students of medical and osteopathic schools regarding mutilation and its complications.
People & committees
Sen. Reid, Harry [D-NV] · D–NV
Legislative record
A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S14242-14244)
Introduced in Senate
Primary sources
Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.
No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.
Source last updated: Aug 10, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
AI Conversation Starters
Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.
Analyze S.2501 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.
Examine S.2501 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.
Examine S.2501 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.
Examine S.2501 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.