(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) announced that she has secured over $7.3 million for critical investments in workplace, healthcare, and education priorities throughout Washington state. The funding was included in the Labor, HHS, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill. Senator Murray is a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee.
“I am proud to have helped bring funding to a variety of very worthwhile programs throughout our state,” said Senator Murray. “This bill will get health care initiatives off the ground, bring new technology to existing programs, support workforce training programs, and will ultimately make a difference in the lives of Washingtonians.”
Senator Murray was particularly proud of funding she was able to allocate for the Seattle Health Work Force Institute and the Port Jobs Program. Both programs seek to address workforce shortages through worker development, education, and training.
“When I travel across the state, employers tell me they are desperate to find workers with the skills they need to grow their businesses,” said Senator Murray. “Yet, for the sixth year in a row President Bush has proposed cutting hundreds of millions of dollars to job training programs. This short-sighted approach would eliminate the hopes of millions of dislocated workers, youth and disadvantaged adults who want to share in the American dream. I have worked hard to bring funding to Seattle programs that are returning hope to our area workforce.”
Now that the bill has passed the full Appropriations Committee it must be brought up for a vote on the Senate floor.
Funding for Seattle area projects includes:
Northwest Hospital and Medical Center Community Health Education and Simulation Center (CHESC) – $750,000
Seattle, WA
The CHESC would serve as a hands-on training center using state-of-the-art equipment and simulation mannequins for practicing, and would optimize medical procedures and life saving techniques.
Seattle Cancer Care Alliance – $700,000
Seattle, WA
These funds will be used for the purchase of equipment for a Mobile Mammography Center to increase access to digital mammography for more women throughout the Northwest, especially to those living in underserved areas.
Health Work Force Institute – $500,000
Seattle WA
These funds will be used to develop and implement a health workforce diversity recruitment and worker development initiative for incumbent workers, unemployed persons, and youth to ease the workforce shortage, increase diversity in health careers, reduce health disparities, and reduce high unemployment in minority populations.
Deaf Blind Service Center – $300,000
Seattle, WA
These funds will be used to set up training centers for support service providers who assist deaf-blind persons with day to day tasks. With one SSP site already in Seattle, this project will expand the SSP program to other areas in Washington.
Jumpstart – $250,000
Seattle, WA
These funds will go towards Jumpstart’s “One Child at a Time” project in Seattle and Spokane. This project partners Gonzaga University and University of Washington students with Head Start and early childhood centers for low-income children to provide a one-to-one mentoring program. Over150 University student mentors will read to children and facilitate parental involvement in early childhood education, as well as provide literacy skills to parents where relevant. The investment of more than 28,000 hours of individual attention devoted by university mentors will allow nearly 1000 of Washington’s most disadvantaged preschoolers to develop.
Port Jobs, in partnership with South Seattle Community College – $100,000
Seattle, WA
In partnership with South Seattle Community College, Port Jobs is developing a pilot project to help entry-level airport workers advance toward economic self-sufficiency. Airport workers will have access to the education and training they need to move towards higher paying jobs.
To view a full list of projects that Sen. Murray was able to provide funding for across Washington state visit: http://murray.senate.gov/news.cfm?id=259038
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