On Wednesday, twenty Republicans voted against the bill that would have renewed the anti-human trafficking initiatives.
The House approved the law, known as the Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection Reauthorization Act of 2022,
Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida's GOP, who is apparently the subject of a federal investigation into charges of sex trafficking
The New York Times originally reported in March 2021 that Gaetz was accused of having a sexual contact with a 17-year-old girl
The congressman from Florida has denied any wrongdoing and told the Times that the investigation is a part of a plot to extort him and his family.
Getz voted against the bill because of its expense and the law's definition of "human trafficking," according
Joel Valdez, a spokesman for Gaetz, told USA TODAY that the senator believes this proposal will serve as a backdoor opening
Additionally, the bill's implementation will cost more than $500 million and will increase taxpayer funding for wasteful award programmes.