Patty Murray

I am certain you have seen the Rand Report that came out last November that recommended some changes to TAP. Are you implementing those?

We have to throw out what we thought of apprenticeship when we were kids and recognize it is a broad array of things.

There is some really exciting work they are doing on base before people leave, with employers in my State.

Thank you very much. Mr. Secretary, your budget makes significant investments to help veterans and those with barriers to get new jobs.

I often refer to the Department of Labor as 'match.com.' We connect businesses who want to grow with workers who want to punch their ticket to the middle class.

Congress has failed to act for far too long, but thankfully, the States are picking up the slack.

I am going to continue to be focused on ways we can create jobs and expand economic security and generate broad-based gross to help grow our middle class.

I agree we should increase investments in the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, as the Administration has proposed.

This is not only about helping workers. This is about leveling the playing field for employers who play by the rules.

I am a very strong supporter of registered apprenticeship programs.

I have sent letters to the Department to make sure we implement strong overtime protection for workers.

Expanding access to apprenticeships has been a priority for me because it sets our workers on a clear pathway and ladder into the middle class.

I would be remiss if I did not thank my home State Senator, Senator Mikulski, for her distinguished service over many years.

We should all be able to agree that every worker should have access to a safe workplace.

That was a game changer. It was a very important piece of legislation, further proof that cultivating our human capital is not a Democratic idea, it is not a Republican idea, it is a good, smart idea that enjoys support throughout the…

I hope we can find ways on this subcommittee to work on a bipartisan basis to grow our Nation's middle class.

I believe workers should get the pay they have earned and that Government should stand up for those workers and protect their rights, not simply allow big corporations to rig the system.

I hope you just nodded.

I would like that part of the public record as well, so I think it is really important for this committee to understand it.

Those are projects that are well underway, and we have spent $209 million on them combined.

The prospect of another 20, or 30, or 40 years passing before the Federal Government completes this critical work at the Hanford site in Central Washington and other sites throughout the Nation is pretty unacceptable.

I am really concerned the fiscal year 2016 budget request would hamper this cleanup.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

I really urge you, Mr. Secretary, to follow the congressional intent as directed in the Nuclear Waste Policy Act and defend DOE's Yucca Mountain license application as an active, engaged participate in those proceedings.

I am very worried about sequestration and budget cuts and the impact on our ability to make sure our families have the cures that they are really counting on.