I think it’s time to finally say it: Senate Democrats don’t care about the victims of human trafficking.
They don’t care about helping the victims of kidnapping and forced prostitution. They don’t care about prosecuting rapists and child molesters. They don’t care about putting an end to modern day slavery.
If they did, they would stop talking and start casting their votes in favor of the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act (JVTA) currently awaiting approval in the Senate.
I’ve written a lot about this bill; it’s important. Most people don’t realize that human trafficking still exists outside the context of horror stories out of southeast Asia or Central America. It’s not just an illegal immigration problem, and it affects human beings in all 50 states.
Hence the once-bipartisan bill that Democrats now refuse to support because the Hyde Amendment applies to its fee structure. Don’t be fooled, though; this obstructionism has nothing to do with Hyde itself. The Amendment has been included in bipartisan spending bills for decades. JVTA author and Majority Whip John Cornyn (R-TX) recently offered changes to the language in the bill that would have addressed Dems’ purported concerns, and still they refuse to relent.
From the Dallas Morning News:
Cornyn’s proposed change to the way trafficking victims were compensated included language from the Hyde Amendment, which bans taxpayer-funded abortions except in cases of rape, incest and life-threatening danger to the mother.Congress has included Hyde Amendment language in successful spending bills for decades.“I don’t know how in the world they could possibly object when we’re answering, responding to their concerns and saying we’re willing to work with you,” said Cornyn on Tuesday afternoon. “My hope is the Senate rises to the challenge.”
I don’t either, but they somehow always manage—even if it means throwing modern day slaves under the bus as a matter of principle:
Cornyn’s change would have redirected money to make the new Hyde language applicable, but Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., said Democrats refuse to include it on principle.“We will not accept language that simply hides the Hyde,” said Murray in a Tuesday press conference. “That is a non-starter for all of us.”
The DMN points out that Dems are taking their cues from the powerful pro-abortion lobby. NARAL tweeted this after the new language surfaced:
Feinstein and Democrats are framing this as a no-compromise position on maintaining the right to choose, but let’s just call it what it is: a blatant grab at the media spotlight at the expense of exploited men, women, and children.
We’ll keep you updated on the bill’s progress.
For the nerds in the room, here’s footage of a late March colloquy between Senator Cornyn and Senator Feinstein regarding JVTA and the Hyde Amendment:
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