Murray-Kerry amendment fails.

Murray-Kerry Amendment to Support Summer Youth Employment, TANF Emergency Fund Fails

Despite a strong push from the workforce development field, an amendment to extend the TANF Emergency Fund through March 2011 and provide $1.3 billion for summer youth employment programs offered by Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and John Kerry (D-MA) on the Senate jobs bill was defeated this morning. Although a majority of Senators supported the amendment—the final vote was 55-45—the amendment did not receive the sixty votes necessary to overcome a budget point of order. It was a party-line vote, with all Republicans and four Democrats—Senators McCaskill (MO), Ben Nelson (NE), Warner (VA), and Webb (VA)—voting against the amendment. Majority Leader Reid (D-NV) then tried to offer an amendment to fund summer youth programs at $730 million, however Senator Gregg (R-NH) objected on behalf of Senate Republicans despite assurances from Senator Reid that the amendment was fully offset. If your Senators voted for this amendment, send them your thanks. If they voted against the amendment, we urge you to express your concerns.   

We'd like to express our thanks to everyone who took the opportunity to weigh in with your Senators on this important issue. National Skills Coalition will continue to work to ensure critical investments in workforce education and training are included in any jobs bill and will provide additional information as it becomes available.