Last week, Senator Murray delivered remarks at the Washington Council on International Trade (WCIT) Conference. In her remarks, Murray outlined priorities that would help the United States compete and win in the 21st century global economy, including investing in key areas like education, infrastructure, and research. Murray explained why these investments are critical to creating jobs, growing the economy, and expanding opportunity for workers and families across the country.

Murray also called for both parties to build on bipartisan efforts of the 113^th Congress on the budget, appropriations, and other issues, and work across the aisle next year to create jobs and make critical investments in our future.

Key Excerpts from Senator Murray’s Remarks:

“The task ahead of us in Congress is to build on that foundation of working across the aisle. Because it is very clear that when it comes to our economic competitiveness, there is a lot we need to get done—for Washington state and for our country as a whole. Especially because, while we dealt with one fiscal battle after another in recent years, other countries focused on investing in their infrastructure, their workforce, and their future economic strength. We can’t afford to fall behind.”

“As we work to compete for new international markets and send our businesses’ products around the globe, we also need to take a close look at the investments we are making in our nation’s future.”

“One of the most critical investments we can make is in education. In this increasingly global economy, a good education is more than just a pathway to opportunity – it’s a prerequisite for success. Ensuring a quality education for every American is essential to our future as a nation. That means we need to improve access to affordable higher education, including two-year colleges and technical training. And it also means finally reforming and reauthorizing No Child Left Behind—which I am committed to working on until it gets done.”

“We also have to make sure our current workforce has the skills and training they need to fill those 21st century jobs we want our businesses to create. I was proud to work with Senator Isakson of Georgia to pass the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act earlier this year. Our bill reforms federal workforce programs so that our workers are better prepared for the jobs of the future—and I will continue to build on this strong step going forward.”

“We also can’t afford to fall behind when it comes to research and innovation. Other countries are ramping up their investments.  They are already seeing returns—and while I know this is a place where some often look for cuts—we can’t afford to sacrifice our long-term prosperity for short term savings. Any good businessperson knows that the last areas you want to cut are those that help your business grow over the long term. Slashing those investments may make things look a little better in the short term—but in the long run, all you’ve done is undercut your potential for growth.”

“The same is true when it comes to our infrastructure. When we slash investments in infrastructure like roads and bridges—we aren’t really saving money at all—we are making things worse. And this kind of short-sighted approach also impedes efforts to move goods to market, both here at home and overseas. Families and businesses across the country understand this, and I’m glad to say that elected officials on both sides of the aisle understand it as well. We are long overdue for a full reauthorization of our surface transportation programs, and I will push to keep this at the top of the list.”

Read Previous Budget Committee Blog Posts on Senator Murray Calling for Investments in Critical Areas:

• Chairman Murray, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Foxx Highlight Importance of Infrastructure Investments at Port of Seattle
• Senator Murray Accepts Terrel H. Bell Award from Committee for Education Funding, Calls for Bipartisan Action to Prioritize Education Investments
• Senator Murray and NIH Director Collins Discuss Importance of Investing in Health Research and Innovation in Seattle.

Read more about Senator Murray’s speech here.