Child marriage puts children at risk. Only 7 states have raised the minimum age to marry to 18, with no exceptions. No state outright legalizes child marriage, but many loopholes exist to allow it. According to the organization Unchained at Last, nearly 300,000 children were married in the US between 2000 and 2018. Nearly all of them were between the ages of 16 and 17, which makes them too young to leave home, enter a domestic violence shelter, or file for divorce, leaving them vulnerable to abuse and pedophilia. The U.S. Department of State views child marriage as a form of child abuse. If that's the case, why is it legal in 43 states?

Although it has declined over the years, there needs to be legislation to end it entirely, as one child is too much. Congress has the power to end the practice today.

Please sign and share because when we get lots of signatures, we can build up serious pressure and momentum to act. Thank you so much and I appreciate every one of your signatures.