The resulting VAWA bill, which would reauthorize all VAWA programs for an additional 5 years and create some important new programs, as well as a handful of other bills, were then amended to the Trafficking Victims Protection Act Conference Report. The Trafficking Victims Protection Act contains provisions for the protection for victims of international sex trade, slavery and forced labor. Other bills included in the package were: 1) The Justice for Victims of Terrorism Act - legislation that revises the legal definition that allows federal courts to award damages to terrorist victims and their families using the frozen assets of countries suspected of supporting terrorism; 2) Aimee’s Law - which forces states to pay for the conviction an incarceration of a repeat sex offender if he or she is released from custody and then convicted of a similar crime in another state; and 3) The 21^st Century Amendment Enforcement Act - legislation which gives more power to states in enforcing laws that regulate the interstate shipment of alcoholic beverages in order to crack down on Internet sales of liquor to youth. This final package was filed on October 5, 2000 and became known as the Trafficking Victims’ Protection Act Conference Report (H.R. 3244). It was then presented to both the House and Senate for a final vote.

On October 6, 2000, the House of Representatives brought the Conference Report to the floor for consideration. The first order of business was the discussion and floor vote of House Resolution 613, which was a rule allowing the vote on the conference bill. This resolution passed 356-28. Those who spoke in favor of adopting this resolution were Representatives Deborah Pryce (R-OH), Louise M..Slaughter (D-WA), Pete Sessions (R-TX), Sue Kelly (R-NY), Mark Adam Foley (R-FL), Christopher Smith (R-NJ), Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-TX), Matt Salmon (R-AZ), Tim Roemer (D-Indiana), and Janice Schakowsky (D-IL). Those in opposition of the resolution included Rep. Robert Scott (D-VA) who spoke out against Aimee’s Law, Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) who discussed his dissatisfaction in having VAWA grouped with unrelated bills, Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) who protested the Internet wine sales tax, and Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) who spoke out against the non-related bills attached to the sex trafficking bill and VAWA.

A co-sponsor of the sex trafficking bill, Rep. Bill Gilman (R-NY), started discussions on the floor about the importance of stopping the trafficking of human beings in the United States and across international borders. Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) spoke next in support of the original VAWA, despite his misgivings about the total package. Rep. Henry Hyde (R-IL) gave his total support of the conference report and VAWA by saying "The legislation is a balanced and comprehensive effort to enhance the ability of states and localities to prevent and combat violence against women." Rep. Sam Gejdenson (D-CT) emphasized the need to move this piece of legislation quickly due to additional legislation such as VAWA, which he pointed out had expired last week, "leaving millions of American women without protection from the violence that they suffer in their lives." Rep. Gejdenson (D-CT) also spoke strongly about his support for the sex trafficking portion of the bill. Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) gave her strong words of support for H.R. 3244 because the bill "addresses the devastating problems of international sex trafficking, sexual predators, violence against women and much more".

The lead sponsor of VAWA in the House, Representative Constance Morella (MD-R) assured the Members that passing this conference would be a "reward for the American people" after a long struggle to get VAWA passed and she referred to the bill the "strongest commitment that Congress has ever made to fighting domestic violence and sexual assault." Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) echoed her support of VAWA, in particular the provisions for teen dating violence and battered immigrant women. Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-TX) spoke in favor of VAWA, focusing her remarks on the importance of the bill for immigrant women in violent relationships and telling a story about a woman from Guatemala who would be helped by this legislation. Rep. Marge Roukema (R-NJ) shares some examples of how programs have helped victims of domestic violence as she consented the passage of the bill with full support. Rep. Joe Scarborough (R-FL) spoke on support of portion of the conference report which would end bootleg selling of alcohol over the internet. Rep. Benjamin Cardin (D-MD), member of the Subcommittee on Human Resources of the Committee of the Committee on Ways and Means, shared his approval the bill H.R. 3422 being passed. Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY) stated "this bill is a victory for the millions of American women who cannot advocate for themselves, women who suffer abuse in silence and in shame" and ended telling her fellow congress members "we have much work left to do." Rep. Donald M. Payne (D-NJ) shared his concerns on combating trafficking of persons. Rep. Matt Salmon (R-AZ) followed with his remarks on the importance of Aimee’s Law because of the difference it would make through the lives that could be saved. Former prosecutor Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-OH) spoke about the importance of VAWA in prosecuting domestic violence cases. Rep. Steven Rothman (D-NJ) added his support to the bill, especially the Secure Our Schools Act. Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) emphasized her support for both VAWA and the trafficking bill. Rep. Juanita Millender-McDonnald (D-CA) discussed her views on sex-trafficking

Rep. Christopher Shays (R-CT) thanked those who worked tirelessly to bring this legislation to the floor and urged his colleagues to support reauthorizing VAWA on both sides of the House. Rep. Christopher Smith (R-NJ) commented that the bill "has attracted such broad support, not only because it is pro-women, pro-child, pro-human rights, pro-family values, and anti-crime, but because it addresses a problem that cries out for a solution." Rep. Mark Udall (D-CO) stressed the importance of VAWA for Colorado, which received $15 million in grants which has done more than help assist victims of domestic violence. Rep. Udall stated that "more remains to be done. More women are injured by domestic violence each year than by automobile accidents and cancer combined." Rep. Karen McCarthy (D-MO) addressed the importance of this bill being passed because of communities with limited resources which need VAWA funding and because "the trafficking of women and girls is growing. " Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) stated that "H.R. 3422 goes a long way toward curbing the violence that affects women victims by assuring access to free shelters." Rep. Patsy Mink (D-HI) also lent her support to the passing of H.R. 3422. The final vote in the house was 371-1. Sixty two members did not vote because most of them had left for their districts for the weekend.

The Senate passed the Trafficking Victims’ Conference Report today (October 11, 2000) with a final vote of 95-0 after several long hours of debate. Most of the debate focused on procedural issues, including a motion from Senator Fred Thompson (R-TN) to strip Aimee’s Law from the bill. The motion did not pass and on this final day that the Senate plans to meet in full session, VAWA reauthorization passed.

Thank you again to all of you who are nursing sore fingers from dialing your Members of Congress and typing e-mails, letters and faxes. This great victory belongs to each and every one of you! As Congresswoman Connie Morella (R-MD) stated earlier today, "This legislation passed because of all the organizations out there making sure that Congress heard their voices loud and clear."