For Immediate Release:

Thursday, July 20, 2006

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."

In central Washington, Senator Murray was able to steer $400,000 in funding to the Mattawa Community Medical Clinic. The funds will be used to complete construction of a new Rural Health Clinic to better serve the growing population there that primarily consists of uninsured and Medicaid patients.

"I am very proud that I was able to secure funding that will help the Mattawa community access quality health care," said Senator Murray. "I understand the struggles rural communities face in providing basic care, and I will continue to push for federal investments to meet the critical healthcare needs of rural communities."

Senator Murray was also able to secure $150,000 for the Tri County Workforce Development Council based in Yakima. This funding will allow small to mid-size manufacturers of plastics, rolled steel, aerospace, and composite technology to take advantage of training in production efficiency, flow process control, and the elimination of waste, time, material, and space in the product stream. It would also allow small to mid-sized food processors to link with education partners to create courses in hydraulics, instrumentation, ammonia refrigeration, and process controls. This funding request will allow incumbent worker training to be provided to 60 employers, and anticipates 400 workers will receive training in a two year period.

"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 programs like the Tri County Workforce Development Council in order to restore hope to our nation's workforce."

Now that the bill has passed the full Appropriations Committee it must be brought up for a vote on the Senate floor.

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