Murray Secures Workforce Training Funding in Omnibus Appropriations Measure

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) — Today, the United States Senate adopted the Omnibus Appropriations funding measure to fund seven appropriations bills for Fiscal Year 2004. Senator Murray joined with Democrats and Republicans to break a filibuster and approve the final appropriations measure for the fiscal year that began almost four months ago. The Omnibus now goes to the White House for the President’s certain approval.

“Like many, I had serious reservations about several provisions in the omnibus appropriations bill. The fight to overturn the attack on overtime and other issues is not over. But I know what’s at stake here and it is time to move on,” Senator Murray said. “I voted to fund our federal responsibility to education, health care, job training and veterans. And I voted to help our state as it seeks to move forward with job creation and economic development.”

Senator Murray is a senior member of the Appropriations Committee and serves on the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Subcommittee that funds education initiatives. The Omnibus Appropriations measure funds numerous Washington state initiatives championed by Senator Murray.

“These two workforce training initiatives are very important to me because they represent collaborative efforts to create jobs in our state as soon as possible,” Senator Murray said, “The importance of job training and economic development funds were a key factor in my decision to support the Omnibus bill. Washington state needs these job creating tools right now to support our economy.”

Senator Murray’s Washington state Workforce Training projects are listed below:

• Washington Workforce Association ($400,000) – The WWA will work statewide in partnership with the Association of Washington Business and the Washington State Labor Council to provide scholarships for high school students to receive intensive post-secondary training to fill high-skill job openings that employers are having difficulty filling.

  High school students will learn about good careers and job opportunities at local businesses and they will be informed of the high school electives they will need to take and the post-high school training that leads into these career paths.

  Employers will commit to hire students upon completion of a scholarship program, and students will commit to begin their new careers with a local employer.

• Seattle Strive ($100,000 – The project will provide job readiness skills too hard to employ individuals, equipping them with the essential skills that can lift them into the mainstream of the workforce. Participants will enter an intense training program designed for people between the ages of 17 and 44 who have difficulty in obtaining and maintaining employment.

  The programs serves as a practical guide to applying for a job and staying employed in the professional world. Graduates are prepared to be self-sufficient, and leave the program prepared to contribute to the community and to the workforce.