Speech in Favor of H.R. 3398, the Girls Count Act Delivered By Rep. Steve Chabot
"Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I want to thank Chairman Royce for his leadership on this important issue.
"Mr. Speaker, it is no secret that we are living in challenging times. The international community is having to confront new evils each day. As Americans, it is critical that we continue to confront these evils with justice and strength.
"The bill before us today continues this effort. With this bill, Congress has the opportunity to address an injustice that is not only holding girls back from fully participating in society, but worse, exposing them to the particularly horrific evils of human trafficking.
"In 2013, there were nearly 230 million children under the age of five that were never recognized as being born. Their births were simply never recorded. In Eastern and Southern Africa, only 38 percent of children are registered by their fifth birthday.
"These children—a majority of whom are girls—become invisible members of society, and miss a critical first step in securing their fundamental human rights.
"Being recognized by your government is necessary for determining identity, citizenship, age, and obtaining access to education and health care.
"When a girl is not counted at birth, it is difficult, if not impossible, for her to own land or start her own business. She is not able to vote, and is at risk of being confined to the home and left unpaid.
"Lack of a birth certificate keeps girls from fully participating in society. It increases the risk of child marriage, forced labor, recruitment into militant groups, human trafficking and sexual exploitation.
"The Girls Count Act would help put an end to these horrors.
"The bill directs the Department of State and USAID to work with our international partners to support the issuance of birth certificates in developing countries.
"The bill will ensure that the most important step in a new citizens life – the registration and recognition of their birth by their government – actually occurs.
"Mr. Speaker, the lack of a birth certificate denies children their fundamental human rights that we as Americans take for granted.
"This bill would make it U.S. policy to encourage the registration of all children worldwide, and make sure that girls do, truly count.
With that, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation and yield back the back the balance of my time."
