The House of Representatives voted unanimously for the "Stopping Abusive Female Exploitation Act" or SAFE.

The legislation triples the federal penalty for female genital mutilation from five to 15 years in prison and calls on states to implement reporting requirements for this heinous crime.

Rep. Dave Trott, R-Michigan, sponsored the bill. Earlier this year three people, including two doctors, were arrested in his state for mutilating the genitals of seven-year-old girls as part of their brand of Islam.

In some Muslim nations genital mutilation of girls is a common religious and cultural practice. The World Health Organization estimates more than 200 million women and girls are subjected to this horrendous practice around the world.

Here in the U.S., the Centers for Disease Control estimates 513,000 women and girls are at risk.

"This appalling and brutal practice has no place in Southeast Michigan, or the United States, and today we make it clear to Americans and the rest of the world that these heinous acts will not be tolerated," Rep. Trott posted on Facebook after the bill passed the House.

It's quite a feat to have any legislation pass the House unanimously.

"Evident in the bipartisan effort is the fact that protecting little girls from the horrors of female genital mutilation is a universal issue," says Elizabeth Yore, an attorney who worked to get the bill passed, "The House has recognized that female genital mutilation is an exponentially growing threat in the U.S."

Yore is calling on states that don't currently have their own laws against the procedure to pass them quickly.

The bill now goes to the Senate where advocates urge swift passage.

To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE

Pro-Life Victory for Preborn Babies with Down Syndrome in Ohio; Court Upholds Law Banning Abortions

Dismantling Some Abortion Lies, Half-Truths, and Propaganda

TX Bill Would Make It Illegal to Change the Gender of Minors, Charging Parents Who Consent With Child Abuse

Black Pro-Life Group Slams MLB's Decision to Pull All-Star Game Out of Georgia

Pentagon Develops Microchip That Detects COVID When Inserted Under Skin

Good News: Florida Reports COVID Deaths in Single Digits for First Time In Seven Months

Michigan Deputies Rescue an Abandoned 4-Month-Old Baby

'The Lord Has Blessed Me': 104-Year-Old WV Man Packs 1,000th Shoebox for Operation Christmas Child

US Recommends a 'Pause' in Administering the Johnson & Johnson COVID Vaccine Due to Blood Clots

'They Can Take Our Facility, But We'll Just Find Another One': Canadian Church Goes Underground; Pastor Coates Leads from a Secret Location

A New Strategy to pass the Born-Alive Protection Act: How You Can Take Action

Alveda King: Voter ID Denial, Slavery and Abortion Are Identity Theft

More Than 30 States Now Considering Bills to Ban Sexually Confused Boys from Girls Sports

'This Means Everything': Sean Feucht Receives William J. Seymour Award at 2021 Azusafest; Reports ALS Sufferers Getting Out of Wheelchairs

Très Bien!: New Openness to the Gospel in France

'She's Unbelievable!': Baby Girl Miraculously Survives to Hug Twin Brother

Supreme Court Rules to Lift California's Restrictions on Bible Studies, Prayer Meetings in Private Homes

Rep. Dan Crenshaw Asking for Prayers after Undergoing Emergency Eye Surgery

PRAY: Iran Vows Revenge against Israel as Attack Inflicts 9 Months of Damage on Iran's Nuclear Program

Republicans Block Biden's Sending of $150 Million to Palestinians