SUGAR LAND, TX– Congressman Pete Olson (TX-22) will host a human trafficking summit on Monday, July 21st at the University of Houston, Sugar Land campus to increase awareness and identify needs in our community to protect our children from falling victim to this growing problem.

Human trafficking is a growing problem in the Houston area. Every year as many as 300,000 children in the U.S. are at risk for sexual exploitation, including sex trafficking, according to a 2011 Justice Department report. According to the Department of Justice, I-10 in Houston is ``the most intense trafficking jurisdiction in America.'' Young women from across the U.S. and smuggled in from other countries are at risk. This summit will address the problem and discuss opportunities to develop solutions.

What: Olson Human Trafficking Summit
Date: Monday, July 21, 2014

When:1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. CST

Where: University of Houston - Sugar Land

180 - Brazos Hall

14000 University Boulevard

 Sugar Land, TX 77479

 Olson Contact: 281-485-4855

Seminar Participants include:

·         Dean Ira Colby, University of Houston Social Work

·         Dr. Robert Sanborn, Children At Risk

·         Andrea Sparks, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children

·         Lauren Niemeyer, International Justice Mission

·         Jim Shoemake, County Judge 434th District Court

·         Belinda Hinojosa, Department of Public Safety

·         John Reid, Attorney General’s Human Trafficking Unit

·         Armando Astorga Jr., Homeland Security Investigations

·         Senator Larry Taylor, Texas District 11 

·         Congressman Pete Olson, Texas District 22

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Media Contact: Melissa Kelly
202-225-5951