(WTAJ) — State representatives Jesse Topper (R) and Perry Warren (D) announced that legislation that would prohibit child marriage in Pennsylvania before the age of 18 was approved by the House Judiciary Committee today and can now be considered by the Full House.
We must not allow opportunities for children to be coerced or forced into marraige. This bill is quite simply a ‘child protection’ bill and im proud to support it with my colleagues”
-Jesse Topper (R) : Pa. State Representative
Warren added that child marriages are often coercive and exploitative and increase the risk of domestic violence while undermining the child’s long-term educational, health and economic opportunities.
When I speak about this bill, invariably someone asks, ‘Child Marraige — is that a thing? It is, and it is time to set the age to 18 to protect children in Pennsylvania.”
-Perry Warren (D): Pa. State Representative
If the bill is passed and signed into law, Pennsylvania will be the third state to ban child marriage. Delaware and New Jersey passed similar laws in 2018.