Republicans in the Senate changed language in a human trafficking bill that caused Democrats to not pass the bill.

The Justice for Victims of Human Trafficking Act had been proposed last month by Senator John Cornyn of Texas and sought to significantly increase penalties for those convicted of exploiting children, engaging in human smuggling or holding women as sex slaves and forcing them into prostitution.

The bill also included a statement that money collected from fines could not be used for abortions.  Democrats said that part of the bill was expanding federal prohibitions beyond the Hyde Amendment and thus blocked the bill.

The revision of the bill has two separate funds where the fines will go to non-medical issues related to helping the victims of trafficking including legal representatives and increased law enforcement.  The second fund comes from appropriations already set aside for community health centers which falls under the Hyde Amendment.

“I’m thrilled we were finally able to come together to break the impasse over this vital legislation, and I look forward to swift passage in the Senate so we can ensure victims of human trafficking receive the resources they need to restore their lives,” Senator Cornyn said.

A spokesman of the Family Research Council stated in 2013 there is a strong connection between human trafficking and the abortion industry.

“Abortion and human trafficking are evils every thoughtful Christian should oppose. Virtually all evangelicals would agree with that statement. What is not always considered, however, is the troubling relationship between these things and how they build upon one another in a growing cascade of moral horror,” Rob Schwarzwalder wrote.