Thursday: Anti-trafficking, nominations

The Senate will once again try to move forward Thursday on a bill to curb human trafficking. 

Senators are scheduled to take a procedural vote on an amendment from Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) that would change how a victims fund, established by the legislation, would get its funding. 

{mosads}Democratic senators, including Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), quickly rejected Cornyn’s amendment this week, and Thursday’s vote is expected to fail. 

Senators will convene at 10 a.m. for leader remarks, before starting debate on the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act. They’re also expected to vote on two nominations Thursday afternoon: Russell Deyo to be the Department of Homeland Security’s undersecretary for management, and Jonodev Osceola Chaudhuri to be chairman of the National Indian Gaming Commission. 

Meanwhile, House lawmakers are expected to finish debate and vote on a bill to repeal the estate tax, often referred to by opponents as the “death tax.” 

House lawmakers convened at 9 a.m. Thursday, with votes expected between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.