José E. Serrano: “the amendment extends the prohibition against all funds in this bill to assist any group or organization that does not…”

“the amendment extends the prohibition against all funds in this bill to assist any group or organization that does not have an explicit policy against prostitution or sex trafficking; again, something we are all in favor of getting rid of. The bill funds the Justice Department, the Commerce Department, and the Judiciary. The question is why should we refuse to help a small manufacturing firm that seeks MEP assistance, for instance, because they do not have a written policy against prostitution? Why should we encumber COPS funds to local police departments or tell the courts they cannot pay a court reporting organization that does not explicitly prohibit prostitution? What effect does this amendment have on scientific grants from NIST and contracts from NOAA? There are some who will question the motives of the opponents of this amendment and suggest that we do not fight strongly enough against prostitution and sex trafficking. I am just concerned that this will cast aspersions on us because we think this is an overbroad amendment with unintended consequences. I just wish, Mr. Chairman, that we would really take a closer look here in consultation with the sponsor, because this, I think, accomplishes or does much more than we think it does.”