Irwin appointed to Commercially Sexually Exploited Children Statewide Coordinating Committee
Rep. Morgan Irwin was recently appointed to the Commercially Sexually Exploited Children Statewide Coordinating Committee. Irwin replaces former state Rep. Linda Kochmar, R-Federal Way.
The Legislature created the committee in 2013 to combat the scourge of sex trafficking of children and youth. The committee examines the practices of local and regional entities involved in addressing these critical issues, and makes recommendations on statewide laws and practices.
“During the 2017 session, I co-sponsored legislation to extend the work of this committee to June 30, 2023. I'm honored for this opportunity to serve on the committee as a representative of the Legislature,” said Irwin, R-Enumclaw. “We have a lot of hard work ahead but I'm duty bound to protect our most precious resource – our children. I'm thankful for the confidence Speaker Chopp has in my abilities to foster the mission of the committee.”
Sex trafficking of children and youth has become a large-scale national issue. The statistics are alarming. According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, 100,000 to 293,000 children are in danger of becoming sexual commodities. The U.S. Department of Justice Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section reports 12-years old is the average age of entry into pornography and prostitution in the U.S.
The Commercially Sexually Exploited Children Statewide Coordinating Committee is one of Washington state's resources to combat this growing trend. Committee members include representation from the Attorney General's Office, the Legislature, state and local agencies, criminal justice entities, and advocacy organizations.
