WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) joined Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Republican Whip John Cornyn (R-TX), Republican Conference Chairman John Thune (R-SD), and Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) in a press conference on Senate Democrats’ partisan obstruction of the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act (S.178). This legislation would aid victims of human trafficking and enhance law enforcement tools. This legislation previously passed the Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously and includes ten Democratic co-sponsors. Senator Ernst urged Democrats to end the political theatrics and move forward on this important legislation.
TRANSCRIPT:
SENATOR ERNST: First, thank you all for coming today, and Senator Cornyn thank you very much for working so diligently on this legislation. Again, thank you for being here. As the mother of three beautiful daughters, and as someone who as a young woman volunteered my time, my energy at a women’s crisis shelter that dealt with many of these forms of abuse, this is important legislation. This legislation is near and dear to my heart. So it is very disheartening to see the partisan politics, the political theatrics that we are seeing this week with this important legislation. Human trafficking cannot be allowed to continue. It shouldn’t exist. And this is essentially modern-day slavery. We have the opportunity to do something about it, and we must do something about it. Senate Democrats in the Judiciary Committee voted unanimously to bring this bill forward, and as my colleagues have stated the language that is found in this bill is nothing new. This is language that has existed for 39 years. So essentially, what they are saying is, ‘It was hidden, it was hidden.’ It was not hidden. This is language that again has been in existence. We’re maintaining the status quo with this legislation. So Senate Democrats, either failed to read that bill or again they are just playing partisan politics and political theatrics with an important issue. Again, as a mother, as a grandmother, we cannot allow our children to be victimized. And now that we have the opportunity to do something about it, we must push this issue, and we must bring this bill forward for a vote. I want to emphasize again that Senate Democrats voted unanimously to bring this bill out of committee, and as stated earlier, there were 10 co-sponsors, Democratic co-sponsors of this bill. So, I am imploring our Senate Democrats to stop the theatrics. Let’s take the opportunity to do something very important for not only our nation’s children, but other children that are being brought into the United States. Let’s enforce these laws, let’s bring forward stiffer penalties, and let’s protect our children. Again, thank you for being here this afternoon.
About the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act:
- The Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act provides law enforcement with the tools to crack down on human traffickers while also helping victims restore their lives
- Improves law enforcement’s ability to target and bring to justice those who purchase sex or labor from a trafficking victim
- Creates a deficit-neutral Domestic Trafficking Victims’ Fund
- Recognizes child pornography production as a form of human trafficking
- Requires traffickers to be treated as violent criminals for purposes of pre-trial release, monitoring and detention
- Streamlines the ability of state and local task forces to obtain wiretap warrants in order to investigate crimes
- Creates a Human Trafficking Advisory Council composed of survivors to formulate recommendations to the Federal Government
- Democrats are suddenly opposing the Hyde Amendment which is included in the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act. The Hyde language was included in the legislation three months ago and has been the law for almost four decades
- Ten Democratic co-sponsors have signed onto the bill while all Senate Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee voted unanimously to bring this bill out of committee
For the Record:
The last 6 years President Obama, Harry Reid, and Nancy Pelosi (while in charges of the US House) totally locked out anything the Republicans proposed.
That 6 year reign of total Democrat control is the most “obstructionist” era in the history of the United States Congress.
Don’t forget it was the the Democrats that started using the “nuclear or constitutional option” to OBSTRUCT debate in the US Senate.
Let’s keep things real here!
Obstructionism or carrying out the voters wishes?
2012 the voters changed the US House became a Republican majority to put a stop to the Democrats socialist agenda and destructive legislation they were cramming through Congress.
The Media and the liberals called it grid lock.
Not me, they did what we elected them to do.
2014 voters changed the Senate to Republican majority to stop the liberals.
You now call it obstructionism.
Not me!
They’re doing what the voters…
They are doing what the voters elected them to do!
That is to put a stop to the Communist/Socialist Democrats agenda that have been hell bent on destroying America.
@watchdog-Good points.
You seem to think that because the Republicans have a majority now in both houses that the Democrats should roll over and play dead. Did the Repubs do that when the Senate was controlled by the Dems? No. They did not. They even publicly announced they would do anything they could do to make the President’s term difficult at best. Don’t come on here telling me that your party is the only party that plays fair. That is absolutely not true.
This is a excellent cause that is being blocked by Harry Reid over some bullcrap he wants. He should be run out of our government and even the country.
Yes, how dare the Democrats obstruct something the Republicans want!!!! There should be a law and any form of obstructionism should be dealt with harshly. Of course, this only applies to Democrats.
So are you saying that if the republicans want to stop human trafficking then it is a bad idea JUST because the republicans want it? This is what I was talking about with the fighting between parties.
No, I was being sarcastic. Obstructionism is wrong on either side of the coin. The republicans have been doing it doing President Obama’s stay in the White House. It’s ridiculous.
and what reid was doing was ok? It’s called politics, if the democrats do it it’s fine but if the republicans do it it’s treason? You people really need to wake up.
No, that is not what I am saying. When the Republicans do it, YOU say it is ok because the President is a traitor. When the Democrats do it, you whine and complain that it is unfair and unethical.
I don’t think it’s ok for anybody to do it period.
@bodacious-Are you saying you believe and want human trafficking? That includes young people under 18 years of age you know? With all of your faults I don’t really believe you support this. You are just following the Democrats philosophy in rejecting anything the Republicans propose. You really need to get over that. This is a good proposal to stop criminals from using children to make illegal money. I know democrats support crime but come on. I don’t think you are that bad a person, just…
Of course I don’t want human trafficking to continue. I just want all of the obstructionism to end. Both parties do it and it seems to me, that you conservatives only think it is counter-productive when the liberals do it.
@bodacious-This time I agree. Both party’s are guilty of this.