Human Trafficking Laws: Loretta Lynch Confirmation At Risk Over Senate Human Rights Bill and Abortion Debate
Loretta Lynch's U.S. attorney general confirmation vote will likely be delayed due to the Senate's gridlock on a human rights bill and language regarding abortion.
Senate Democrats blocked the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act, which would strengthen penalties for human trafficking, due to the abortion language in the bill. Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., addressed the Senate floor and said the bill failed because "Republicans have chosen to manufacture a political fight that has nothing to do with human trafficking."
Reid acknowledged the Senate Republicans' alleged efforts to disrupt Lynch's confirmation.
"The chief law enforcement officer in our country is being detained because of this fight between Democrats and Republicans as to whether an abortion provision should be in this bill," said Reid. "We believe it shouldn't be in this bill. Republicans believe it should be. There is a good person who deserves our immediate attention. Loretta Lynch's nomination should be done immediately. There's no reason we can't do this now. Today."
Ahead of the Senate vote, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said Democrats have filibustered the bill due to "left-wing lobbyists" requests.
"Democrats filibustering help for terrified children and abused women would represent a new low," said McConnell. "And the American people would not soon forget it. Nor should they. It's hard to even keep straight anymore why Democrats would filibuster this human-rights bill."
McConnell noted the bill was introduced on a bipartisan effort and was approved by every Democrat on the Judiciary Committee. He also mocked Senate Democrats for not discovering the abortion language, listed on page four, during earlier discussions for the bill.
"So if there truly are senators that concerned with removing a bipartisan provision they've supported so many times in the past, they should offer an amendment to strike it and then stop blocking this human-rights bill. I've offered them a chance to do just that," McConnell said.
"The White House needs to get involved here too. So far, the White House has barely lifted a finger to help us pass this legislation. That needs to change. I think the White House should do this because it's the right thing to do. But if that's not enough, they should also consider the consequences of Democrats making a historic mistake.
"If Democrats actually vote to filibuster help for the oppressed victims of modern slavery, the American people will not forget it," McConnell said at Senate floor.
Reid has called for Lynch's confirmation vote this week. He said Republicans not agreeing to vote for Lynch shows the GOP failed another "basic test" to govern.
"Lynch is extraordinarily qualified and there is no procedural excuse for further delay," said Reid.
"Lynch's nomination can be brought to the floor at any time. There is nothing stopping the Senate from confirming Lynch and continuing to debate the trafficking bill this week, except Sen. McConnell's unwillingness to bring her nomination up for a vote. Sen. McConnell is choosing to delay Lynch's confirmation despite having already kept her waiting longer than any Attorney General nominee in three decades. No more excuses, no more delays. Confirm Loretta Lynch now."
The human-trafficking bill failed to meet the required 60 votes due to the 55-43 final vote.
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