The Washington State Senate has approved eight bills targeting those involved in the trafficking of men and women for labor and sexual purposes.

Sen. Kline: "What we have is a balance between the interests of not simply law enforcement but of young women and men who are victimized frequently by international pimps, and let's use that word where it belongs. These are pimps."

Senator Adam Kline spoke for a bipartisan group of senators who brought ten bills to the Senate floor on Wednesday aimed at ending human trafficking. While the specific goals bills covered a wide range of offenses from addressing sexually explicit performances to keeping minors from being exploited through online ads for escort services, they are all designed to continue a battle Senator Jeanne Kohl-Welles says Washington is leading the charge in.

Sen. Kohl-Welles: “In 2003, we were the first state to make human trafficking a state crime. We have led the way in the last ten years and we’re continuing to lead the way now.”

Action taken on Wednesday saw eight of the ten bills approved. The remaining two should be up for a voted on Thursday.