Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) suggested Thursday that Democrats are siding with special interest groups over victims of human trafficking.
Democrats have threatened to block the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act, which would give additional resources to law enforcement and start a fund for trafficking victims, because of a provision that blocks federal funds from being spent on abortion.
McConnell said Democrats should abandon their opposition to the bill, which he suggested is politically motivated.
{mosads}”Our Democratic friends have to resist the siren song of their pollsters who tell them that the path to victory lies in turning bipartisan bills into fights over cultural issues,” McConnell said.
“Help is almost there for the vulnerable victims of these awful, awful crimes. Surely no left-wing special interest group is more important than fighting modern-day slavery.”
Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) said he expects senators will have a cloture vote on the anti-trafficking proposal on Thursday.
Democrats, however, are doubling down on their demand that Republicans remove the abortion language, or they will vote against the legislation. If they remain united, Republicans will fall short of the 60 votes needed to move forward.
“The solution is so simple: Take the abortion language out of the bill,” Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said. “Republican senators have a choice to legislate or hijack the debate. … We can finish this bill in 20 minutes. The only thing that needs to be done is the language relating to abortion should come out of this bill.”
Reid said that, if the anti-trafficking legislation fails, senators will attach the proposal to “something that is imperative that we get done.”