A bill meant to crack down on human trafficking is in deep trouble in the Senate because of a political fight over abortion.

The Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act would give additional resources to law enforcement on the issue, as well as start a fund for trafficking victims.

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But Democrats are threatening to pull their support over the inclusion of the Hyde Amendment, which blocks the use of federal funds to pay for abortions.

The fight took a turn for the worse Wednesday, when Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid Harry Mason ReidSenate Republicans signal openness to working with Biden Mellman: The likely voter sham Bottom line MORE (D-Nev.) suggested that Democrats would block the legislation unless Republicans strip out the abortion provision.

“Take that legislation out of the bill, otherwise it will not pass. Take it out,” he said. “Republicans are committed to turning the bipartisan bill into an unrelated, unconscionable political fight.”

Sen. John Cornyn John CornynBipartisan praise pours in after Ginsburg's death Chamber of Commerce endorses McSally for reelection Airline job cuts loom in battleground states MORE (R-Texas), who introduced the anti-trafficking bill, fired back, saying that Democrats are trying to “kill the bill.”

“Unless something changes between now and the time we vote on cloture on the bill, [that] is what’s going to happen,” Cornyn said. “I hope something happens between now and the end of the week.”

Senate Democrats say they were tricked by Republicans over whether the abortion-related language would be included in the bill.

“We can give all the speeches out here we want, saying somebody should have read the bill more closely,” Reid said. “A number of people feel that it was by sleight of hand that this unrelated language was included in the legislation.”

Reid’s comments followed similar remarks from Sens. Dick Durbin Richard (Dick) Joseph DurbinMcConnell focuses on confirming judicial nominees with COVID-19 talks stalled Senate Republicans signal openness to working with Biden Top GOP senator calls for Biden to release list of possible Supreme Court picks MORE (D-Ill.) and Charles Schumer Chuck SchumerPelosi orders Capitol flags at half-staff to honor Ginsburg Ginsburg in statement before her death said she wished not to be replaced until next president is sworn in Democrats call for NRA Foundation to be prohibited from receiving donations from federal employees MORE (D-N.Y.).

Schumer told reporters Tuesday that, “a list [was] sent to certain members saying ‘here are the changes from last year.’ This provision was not listed among them.”

Republicans, however, vehemently denied that they deceived Democrats to gain support for the proposal, which passed unanimously out of the Judiciary Committee earlier this year.

“If they didn’t know that this language was in there, they didn’t read the legislation,” said Sen. Chuck Grassley Charles (Chuck) Ernest GrassleySenate Republicans face tough decision on replacing Ginsburg What Senate Republicans have said about election-year Supreme Court vacancies Biden says Ginsburg successor should be picked by candidate who wins on Nov. 3 MORE (R-Iowa).

A Republican aide said that the abortion provision was included in the legislation when it was reintroduced in January, and that Democrats knew about it.

“This language was added last year, was in when we introduced in January, and Democrat staff told us they knew it was in there prior to committee markup in February,” the aide said. “To cry foul now is disingenuous and not deserving of these survivors.”

While senators continued to voice optimism that a deal can be reached, it’s unclear how they will reach an agreement before a cloture vote that senators will take Thursday.

The partisan fight is a stark turn from Monday, when both Reid and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellObama calls on Senate not to fill Ginsburg's vacancy until after election Planned Parenthood: 'The fate of our rights' depends on Ginsburg replacement Progressive group to spend M in ad campaign on Supreme Court vacancy MORE (R-Ky.) suggested the legislation deserved broad bipartisan support.

Democrats worry that Republicans are trying to expand the Hyde Amendment, which is generally attached to appropriations bills.

If the anti-trafficking legislation passes with the abortion language intact, the victims fund it establishes using money from criminal trafficking convictions would be subject to the Hyde Amendment.

Democrats argue that’s a change in how the amendment is typically used.

Sen. Patty Murray Patricia (Patty) Lynn MurrayTrump health officials grilled over reports of politics in COVID-19 response CDC director pushes back on Caputo claim of 'resistance unit' at agency The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by The Air Line Pilots Association - Pence lauds Harris as 'experienced debater'; Trump, Biden diverge over debate prep MORE (D-Wash.) accused Republicans of trying to “sneak in” the abortion language.

“I am appalled that on a bill intended to help women, Republicans actually have chosen to double down on their political fight against women’s health,” she said.

But Republicans aren’t backing down. Sen. Jerry Moran Gerald (Jerry) MoranLobbying world This World Suicide Prevention Day, let's recommit to protecting the lives of our veterans Hillicon Valley: Zuckerberg acknowledges failure to take down Kenosha military group despite warnings | Election officials push back against concerns over mail-in voting, drop boxes MORE (R-Kan.) said if Democrats have a problem with the abortion language, they ought to offer an amendment.

“If you’re opposed to something, the way to solve that is not to block the consideration of the bill,” he said. “The way to solve that is to allow the bill to be considered, and if you oppose something in the bill, offer an amendment, have the debate, and let the votes decide.

Updated at 8:27 p.m.