SENATE PANEL APPROVES SHAHEEN PROVISIONS FOR JOB CREATION, EDUCATIONAL INVESTMENTS

(Washington, DC) - Two of Senator Jeanne Shaheen’s (D-NH) efforts to promote job creation and STEM education investments were approved by a Senate panel this afternoon and will next head to the floor for the full Senate’s consideration. The Senate Appropriations Committee this afternoon specifically approved Shaheen’s report language to support the Manchester Job Corps Center and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) education efforts. Together, the two provisions give direction to the U.S. Departments of Labor and Education on initiatives important to New Hampshire’s workers and economy.

“We have to get people back to work in the short-term and invest in our economic competitiveness in the long-term.  The Manchester Job Corps Center will help us meet that short-term goal and investments in STEM education will help us develop a homegrown workforce for the future that bolsters our economy for future generations, particularly in the global marketplace,” said Senator Shaheen, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee.  “These are commonsense efforts that will boost our economy, students, and middle-class families.”

Shaheen’s language in the Senate Appropriation Committee’s Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education and Related Agencies bill report include:

Job Corps: The Committee provides resources to fund Job Corps Operations across the country and specifically includes language with respect to the Manchester Job Corps Center in order to “ensure that competitively awarded contracts will be in place to keep the process of opening the Manchester center on course.” This language is critical to the continued construction on the project and to keep it on track to open in 2015. Currently, New Hampshire is one of only two states without a job corps center.

STEM Education: The committee approved report language to support nontraditional STEM teaching activities, including robotics competitions, to further engage and inspire students to pursue careers in these fields. The language also puts an emphasis on STEM education opportunities for women and minorities. Senator Shaheen introduced similar provisions as a standalone piece of legislation earlier this year.