Senator Murray: “Washington state families cannot rely on foreign competitors to bring down prices, strengthen supply chains, provide U.S. workers good paying jobs, and build a brighter future for our country. We have to build it ourselves—which is why I am going to be pushing to make sure we … pass the strongest package we can to keep our country competitive on the world stage.”
***WATCH SENATOR MURRAY’S FULL REMARKS HERE***
(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, participated in the opening conference committee meeting on the Senate-passed United States Innovation and Competition Act (USICA) and the House-passed America Creating Opportunities for Manufacturing, Pre-Eminence in Technology, and Economic Strength (COMPETES) Act. During today’s meeting, Senator Murray made clear that she’s focused on ensuring the final package will strengthen supply chains, support innovation, bring down prices, and provide good-paying jobs for people across Washington state and our country.
“Washington state families cannot rely on foreign competitors to bring down prices, strengthen supply chains, provide U.S. workers good paying jobs, and build a brighter future for our country,” said Senator Murray. “We have to build it ourselves—which is why I am going to be pushing to make sure we draw on the best ideas from both the House and Senate bills, and pass the strongest package we can to keep our country competitive on the world stage.”
In particular, Senator Murray highlighted her focus on supporting students in pursuing higher education and preparing for jobs in STEM fields, creating good-paying jobs, connecting workers to high-quality workforce development opportunities, and strengthening our supply chains.
“When it comes to supporting students, both of these bills include important provisions to give K-12 students, especially historically marginalized students, better opportunities to pursue an interest in computer science and other STEM fields,” said Senator Murray. “And when it comes to supporting workers—who are the backbone of our economy—I want to make sure we pass a bill that not only connects workers with high-quality workforce development opportunities that prepare them to compete in the economy of the future, but creates good-paying jobs in these fields, right here in the U.S.—and particularly in the Pacific Northwest.”
Senator Murray also stressed the importance of passing the Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act so that cannabis stores don’t have to operate entirely in cash.
“And I want to be really clear on one other item: I hope we can all come to an agreement to keep SAFE banking in our final bill so that cannabis stores in states like mine don’t have to operate entirely in cash. This is a really straightforward, bipartisan solution to a real public safety threat that I strongly believe we should all be able to agree on,” added Senator Murray.
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