Kohl led bipartisan coalition in the Senate to seek funds to retrain unemployed workers

WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Herb Kohl worked to include $1 billion for job training as part of the economic stimulus bill approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee today.  Kohl is a member of the Appropriations Committee and worked with the Democratic Committee Chairman and the Republican Ranking Member, as well as President Obama's Administration, to include this funding in the Senate version of the stimulus plan.  These funds will help approximately 260,000 unemployed workers retrain for new job opportunities.  Last June, Kohl led a coalition of 32 bipartisan Senators who called for a restoration of job training funds that had been rescinded by the Department of Labor.  In December, Kohl contacted then President-elect Obama to request that additional funds for employment and training activities for dislocated workers be included in the economic stimulus bill. 

"In these difficult economic times we need to focus on basic needs rapid response, and putting people back to work is a fundamental component to get the economy moving," Kohl said.  "With new and updated occupational skills, people are more likely to find good paying jobs to support their families.  Job training initiatives also help America's employers by improving their business's efficiency and effectiveness so they can successfully compete in the global economy."

Kohl, in his December 11^th letter to then President-Elect Obama, said that an investment in job training funds would have the immediate benefit of stimulating the economy and a long-lasting impact in helping communities around the country weather the economic storm by putting people back to work. 

Kohl also noted that over 14 million workers, or one in ten workers nationally, are expected to seek assistance from the nation's 3,200 one-stop career centers.  However, states are in desperate need of job training dollars and may be forced to close or reduce services at these offices.  The federal job training funding included in the economic stimulus package will help alleviate some of the burden on state budgets.       

The measure as approved by the Committee is now eligible for consideration on the Senate floor.

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