Oregon Public Broadcasting

Democratic Senator Ron Wyden spoke today to a group of several hundred Oregon pastors about sexual exploitation of women and girls along the I-5 corridor.

Police officers and local researchers say Portland is a hub of sex trafficking.

Wyden asked the pastors for help creating safe homes for trafficking victims. He says that will help the state crack down on pimps.

Ron Wyden: "The prospect of having these young women in a position to testify against the pimps is very hard because there is a real question about where she will even stay during the interim so as to be able to testify."

Wyden is working with Republican Senator John Cornyn of Texas on a bill that would fund shelters in a handful of states where trafficking occurs the most. It would also give those states money to cover trial expenses and train law enforcement.

That legislation recently got a stamp of approval from the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Wyden says he hopes the full Senate will take it up before the end of the year.