This week, the Senate continued its consideration of the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act (S. 178). The bill stalled last week amid partisan debate over the inclusion of language that would restrict funds in the domestic trafficking victims fund from being used for abortions (see The Source, 3/15/15).
After several motions to end debate, also known as cloture, failed to obtain the required 60 votes to pass, Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), the bill’s sponsor, offered a substitute amendment that would subject the victims’ fund to the annual appropriations process. However, the substitute also failed to invoke cloture.
During consideration of the Cornyn amendment, Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) offered an amendment that would subject the victims’ fund to the appropriations process, but would remove the reference to the Hyde Amendment. Although the Senate approved the amendment, it became moot when the substitute amendment was defeated.
