Economy - U.S. Senator Patty Murray

The Economy

Murray's Work

Trade

One of my top priorities in the U.S. Senate is to support policies that encourage economic growth in Washington state. Promoting international trade is critical to ensure our economy stays strong. Washington is the most trade-dependent state in the nation. Our exports exceeded $66 billion in 2007, and according to estimates, one in three jobs in Washington depends on international trade.

However, I also strongly believe that the U.S. must engage in fair trade practices and demand the same from its trading partners. The terms of trade agreements must be enforced to ensure American products receive fair access in international markets. I have consistently fought to ensure we are working with our international trading partners to see that they comply with internationally recognized standards for labor, environmental stewardship, human rights, and intellectual property protections.

I have been a strong supporter of trade adjustment assistance programs to help displaced workers learn skills that will help them stay competitive in the global economy, and I have worked to add provisions to legislation that would provide additional health care benefits for workers who are transitioning to new jobs. I have also fought to expand trade adjustment assistance so it covers workers in more fields and offers more types of training and assistance.
Improving our Education system is vital to enable Americans to get the skills and training they need to succeed. By investing in strong reading, math, and science curriculums in our schools, we can ensure that the next generation of American workers will have the skills necessary to get family-wage jobs in competitive global industries, such as technology and engineering.

I have authored legislation that would reform America’s high schools. My proposal would increase the emphasis on reading and math, help students and their families plan for graduation, and help schools that are lagging behind. Those efforts to better equip students for jobs in a global economy have helped shape national education policy and programs, and I will continue to push for stronger curriculums that help ensure American students have the skills to compete against their peers anywhere in the world.

We also must invest in our current workforce and help provide access to training programs for workers looking to gain new skills. I have authored and fought for legislation to expand the nation’s workforce development programs, and I will continue to fight for initiatives that help American workers become better equipped to compete in international markets.
Finally, we must continue to improve existing trade agreements and use them to expand our access to foreign markets, set labor standards that respect human rights, and provide environmental protections. Labor standards and environmental safeguards should be central issues to every trade contract, and contracts should include provisions to ensure enforcement.

.........................................

Labor

In order to maintain our leadership in the global economy, we must ensure our nation’s workers have the skills and training to compete. As a senior member of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, I have consistently fought for increased access to training and resources through federal and local programs that help workers acquire skills that are in demand and expand opportunities for workers to take family-wage jobs.

I authored legislation to expand summer employment opportunities for youth. The legislation would create up to 1 million jobs for economically disadvantaged youth. Youth employment not only benefits local communities, but teens who have summer job experience also get the chance to learn about career opportunities and develop work and technical skills that will help them when they get ready to enter the workforce later.
As chair of the Senate Employment and Workplace Safety Subcommittee, I have led the fight to reauthorize the Workforce Investment Act, which provides federal funds to help workers gain the skills they need for competitive jobs. And I fought to block the proposed regulations by the Department of Labor under the Bush Administration, which would have undermined the core of our national workforce system.

In Washington state, I have been proud to help state leaders use WIA funds to develop an excellent workforce training system. The WIA system and its partners help workers connect the dots between the skills-development needs of workers and the needs of local employers to fill the jobs that make their businesses grow. It empowers workers by offering training, employment services, and local labor market information, allowing them to make informed career choices. And it works closely with business leaders to identify in-demand jobs that they need to fill and that will help keep the community’s economy healthy.

Unemployment assistance is a vital lifeline for workers, and it helps keeps state and local economies healthy when local residents are searching for employment. I have fought to ensure unemployed Washingtonians can get help to pay the bills while they are looking for new work. Among other things, I supported legislation that extended unemployment benefits by up to 13 weeks for workers who have been unemployed long- term.
With high school dropout and unemployment rates on the rise, it is essential that we find innovative ways to make education work better for our students, our businesses, and our communities. I have traveled throughout Washington state, bringing together students, teachers, workforce and economic development leaders, employers, and labor officials to talk about solutions. As a result of these discussions, I introduced the Promoting Innovations to 21st Century Careers Act, which would provide incentives for communities, employers, and schools to work together and identify ways to help students get the skills they need to succeed in school and the 21st century careers that drive our regional economies.