There comes a time in American history when a bill is introduced into Congress that has real bipartisan support and has such common-sense appeal that it would be idiotic for anyone to block it. To want to play politics with a bill of this nature would be asinine and would prove one’s ineptitude. Yet, this “well, duh, we are going to vote yes on it” bill is being obstructed by Senate Democrats, and no end is in sight for them to realize the senselessness of their stance against something that, I’m sure, 99.99 percent of the population supports.
I’m referring to the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act, which is being stonewalled for political gain. This act aims to improve tools provided to law enforcement to prevent and stop those involved in human trafficking and sets up a fund for assisting victims from increased criminal fines. According to the U.S. Department of State, about 600,000 to 800,000 people are trafficked across international borders every year — 80 percent are female and 50 percent are children. These victims can be forced into prostitution, slavery, involuntary servitude or compelled to commit sex acts on camera.
One devastating story that shines a light on these human rights injustices is from a woman named Maria, who was taken from her home in Mexico at the age of 15, sold by a woman to a man in California for $200 and forced to work up to 20 hours a day cleaning. During this time she was beaten and raped. After five years of this abuse, her “owner” was murdered by another man, but she was blamed for it and put in prison for 22 years. She has moved on to become an active member in the Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking. Stories like hers continue to be a reality for people in the U.S. and all over the world.
This bill to combat these horrific crimes, which are mostly perpetrated against women, children and minorities, was introduced in the committee in January with no opposition from any leader. However, last week Senate Democrats voted on five separate occasions against it. Only four Democratic lawmakers voted with Republicans to advance the bill, and it continuously has missed the 60 votes needed to pass.
Most Democrats are refusing to vote for this act because it includes the Hyde Amendment, which has been used in laws since 1976 to prevent federal funds from being used to pay for abortions, except for in cases of rape and incest. Democrats have claimed that this amendment was added in after it left the initial committee it was drafted in, but in reality it was written in from the very beginning. Republicans did not sneak it in, and Democrats are using this as an excuse to further exploit that Republicans are anti-women and anti-choice, when in fact that couldn’t be further from the truth.
Back when the Affordable Care Act was being drafted in the House, Democratic Rep. Bart Stupak introduced the Stupak-Pitts Amendment into the health care law that would prohibit federal funds from paying for abortions, again with exceptions for extreme cases. This amendment was included in the House version, but it was excluded from the Senate version. In order to secure Stupak’s vote, President Obama issued an executive order guaranteeing the Hyde Amendment would be a part of the health care overhaul.
Let’s put this into perspective: In the past, Democrats, including President Obama, have pushed for and passed the Hyde Amendment, but when Republicans include it in a bill that will work to correct the abuses against trafficking victims suddenly it becomes a political game where Democrats paint Republicans as malicious.
To try to get the Democrats to back off and pass this act, Republicans have stated that they will not hold a vote on approving Loretta Lynch’s appointment as the new attorney general until the bill passes. Democrats saw this as an opportunity to pile on their fabricated rhetoric against the GOP and have said that Republicans halting Lynch’s appointment are racist. Sen. Dick Durbin asserted that Republicans are forcing Lynch to “sit in the back of the bus when it comes to the Senate calendar,” an incendiary remark founded in falsehood that will only continue to strain race relations.
Note to Democrats: Have a wake-up call and realize that Democrats have also introduced anti-abortion provisions before, even quite recently. This political charade needs to stop so that we can begin to better assist victims of human trafficking.
Nick Eagle is a UF economics and political science senior. His column appears on Mondays.
[A version of this story ran on page 7 on 3/23/2015 under the headline “Democrats voting no on Trafficking Act is a shameful, political charade”]
