Senate

Senate approves abortion fight fix

by Jordain Carney - 04/22/15 12:03 PM ET

Senators approved a deal Wednesday to overcome a fight over abortion funding that has stalled legislation to curb human trafficking, clearing the way for final passage of the proposal.

Senators voted 98-0 on the amendment from Sens. John Cornyn (R-Texas), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Patty Murray (D-Wash.).

{mosads}The amendment resolves a weeks-long stalemate on the trafficking legislation. It allowing a victims fund to get its money from two sources: criminal fines and money previously appropriated by Congress.

Cornyn said ahead of the vote that the legislation underscores that “we have not fallen deaf to the cries of those who actually need our help.”

“[This] is a very positive step because what it demonstrates is that we have not fallen deaf to the cries of those who actually need our help, the victims of human trafficking,” the Texas Republican said. “This will be a good day for the United States Senate and for the victims of human trafficking.”

Senators also blocked a Democratic attempt to strip the language restricting the use of federal funds on abortions from the trafficking proposal completely.

Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) said his amendment would support the trafficking legislation “without the divisive language that limits victims services and has held us up for so long.”

“Congress has a long history of passing legislation to address human trafficking,” he said. “We’ve consistently done so without abortion politics being in the discussion.”

But senators blocked Leahy’s amendment by a 43-55 vote, with Democratic Sens. Bob Casey Jr. (Pa.), Joe Donnelly (Ind.) and Joe Manchin (W.Va.) voting with Republicans.

Cornyn warned ahead of the vote that supporting Leahy’s amendment “would undermine the delicate compromise that has been reached.”

Democrats said the trafficking legislation as originally written would have expanded the abortion restrictions beyond federal dollars to include money from fines on private individuals.

Republican Sens. Marco Rubio (Fla.) and Ted Cruz (Texas), both 2016 presidential contenders, didn’t vote.

Senators are expected to vote on final passage for the trafficking legislation on Wednesday afternoon.