Sen. Roach making official visit to Panama Canal on Thursday

Published 10:31 am Wednesday, September 23, 2015

For the Reporter

Sen. Pam Roach, R-Auburn, is among a select group of Western States lawmakers invited to visit the Panama Canal on Thursday.

She will be the only legislator from Washington taking part in the official tour, which will include a meeting with the U.S. ambassador to Panama.

“The Panama Canal is nearing the end of a massive, multi-year expansion project to allow the accommodation of larger cargo ships. My goal is to learn what this means for the economies of the United States and our state,” Roach said. “The ports of Tacoma and Seattle recently joined to create the Northwest Seaport Alliance, the third-largest container gateway in North America, and the more I and other state leaders know about the Panama Canal, the better we can work to position Washington for trading opportunities.”

Roach was chosen by the Senate majority leader to make the visit as Senate president pro tempore, as a member of the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Trade Policy, and as chair of the Senate committee on government operations, which includes local governments, such as port districts). Her travel is being paid for by the non-profit, non-partisan Council of State Governments West, based in Sacramento.

Also: Roach named to state’s new anti-trafficking task force

Roach’s work to protect children and families now includes serving on the new state task force against the trafficking of persons. She was appointed to the position by the Senate majority leader.

“This fits right in with my efforts to target sex criminals who use the internet to prey on children,” said Roach, a Republican whose legislative district includes parts of Pierce and King counties.

This year the Legislature unanimously approved Senate Bill 5215, her bill creating a dedicated state-level funding source for Washington’s Internet Crimes Against Children task force. Roach then helped to secure $860,000 in the new state budget for the ICAC effort.

The task force against the trafficking of persons also came from legislation that received unanimous support. Roach said she and other group members will evaluate the progress of Washington’s anti-trafficking activities and services; review the effectiveness of the state’s anti-trafficking laws; look at how other states provide anti-trafficking services and resources; and recommend changes to the governor and the Legislature.

“We can never let up in the battle against those who treat human beings as a commodity. I look forward to getting to work on this new effort,” Roach said.