Senator Murray is a leader in workforce development and training. Keeping our nation’s economy and communities strong means helping workers of all ages access the skills training they need to succeed in 21st century jobs. As Chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Employment and Workplace Safety and a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, Senator Murray works to ensure that workers have the tools they need to prosper in today’s dynamic economy.
Senator Murray believes when it comes to workforce development, states and communities know their own needs better than anyone in Washington, D.C. Those principals are echoed in the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) of 1998, the legislative cornerstone of our nation's workforce system. That's why she is committed to the critical job training programs under WIA for adults, dislocated workers, and at-risk young people, and why she has worked to strengthen them by:
Senator Murray continues to support the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program, which provides aid to workers who lose their jobs or whose hours or wages are reduced as a result of international trade. It is no secret Washington state is the most trade dependent state in our nation—international trade matters tremendously to each and every region and to every sector of the state economy. While she believes that trade is ultimately good for the economy, she understands the necessity of expanding job training opportunities and health care assistance for workers who are negatively impacted by trade. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Murray will fight to protect funding for the TAA program and assistance to workers displaced by trade policies.
As a long-time workforce advocate and educator, Senator Murray is steadfast in helping students access the skills they need to succeed in the classroom and in their future careers. That is why she joined with leaders from across Washington state and the country in education, business, labor, workforce and economic development to create a career pathways initiative for high schools students that supports their successful entry into family-wage jobs in thriving industries. Senator Murray believes partnerships among these leaders at both the state and regional levels are critical to help students access meaningful academic and career education at the secondary level and smooth their transitions into post-secondary education, including registered apprenticeship, and careers.
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