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

This afternoon, SkillWorks received the disappointing news via the National Skills Coalition that despite
a strong push from the workforce development field, an amendment to extend the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (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.

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.

Thanks to everyone who took the opportunity to weigh in with Senator Scott Brown today on this important issue. We urge you to take a moment to call his office at (202) 224-4543 and express your concern that he voted against this amendment.

We look forward to sending along additional information about employment training legislation as we get the news.

Sincerely,

Loh-Sze Leung
Director
SkillWorks: Partners for a Productive Workforce