ICYMI: Senator Murray advocates for the reauthorization of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)
Murray authored the bill that established the grant program providing OIC with $5 million in 2014 and has funded it ever since
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), a senior member and former Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, announced a $5,048,619 million grant for the Opportunities Industrialization Center (OIC) of Washington to provide training, support, and career services to help migrant and seasonal farmworkers and their dependents develop skills to pursue careers in agriculture or non-agriculture sectors.
“I hear all the time from businesses across our state who need more skilled workers, and workers who want to set themselves and their families up for success,” said Senator Murray. “With this grant the OIC will be able to provide comprehensive workforce and educational training for our farmworkers and their families in Central Washington. Investing in this kind of workforce training not only helps us build a strong economy for our state and nation, but helps make life better for people in Washington state.”
The OIC is an economic development and career training agency in Yakima, Washington that educates, trains, and provides supportive services to low-income and rural communities. The Center has hosted programs on job skills training, high school completion, energy assistance, emergency food assistance, energy conservation, and youth and seniors in the region for over 50 years.
Murray secured funding to the OIC from the National Farmworker and Jobs Program within the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration. The grant delivered is authorized through the bipartisan Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act(WIOA)—landmark legislation Murray authored and led passage of in 2014 to strengthen the nation’s workforce development programs, help Americans–including youth and those facing significant barriers to employment–acquire high-quality jobs and careers, and assist employers in hiring and retaining skilled workers.
Senator Murray has been a consistent advocate for federal investments to strengthen our workforce and support workers and employers across Washington state. In Congress, Murray is advocating for the reauthorization of WIOA. As Senate Appropriations Chair, Murray prioritizes protecting investments in workforce training and development, securing $2.9 billion in FY 2024 for WIOA formula grants and $285 million for Registered Apprenticeships. In the Senate FY 2025 funding bill she passed out of committee, Murray protected essential investments made in recent years by providing $2.9 billion for WIOA formula grants, $290 million for Registered Apprenticeships, and $110 million for YouthBuild while she sustained funding for other programs—such as Reentry Employment Opportunities.
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