Evergreen Reporter

Kirkland, WA – On May 23, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, toured the Lake Washington Institute of Technology in Kirkland (LWTech) and hosted a roundtable discussion on the investments she is fighting for — in everything from education and workforce development to American manufacturing and clean energy technology — to ensure that the U.S. remains a leader in innovation and competitive in the global economy.

Murray secured $1.1 million in Congressionally Directed Spending as part of last year’s spending bill for a solar installation program at LWTech—an example, Murray said, of the investments we need to continue making through the regular appropriations process to ensure the U.S. remains competitive. The project—which includes a solar array and electric vehicle charging stations—will reduce electricity costs at LWTech, enabling the college to increase spending on instructional equipment by 14 percent. The solar array and EV charging stations will also allow LWTech to expand their electronics technology program to including hands-on instruction for future jobs in the solar and electric vehicle industries.

Murray’s visit to LWTech today came on the heels of a full Senate Appropriations Committee hearing Senator Murray chaired last week on the importance of investments in U.S. competitiveness.

“One point I have been making every chance I get is that competing—and keeping our country safe and economy strong—isn’t just about defense and investing in our military,” Senator Murray said at the roundtable discussion. “Being competitive means leading the world in innovation and supporting research and development that puts us on the cutting edge of the industries of the future. It means building clean energy infrastructure that will make us more energy independent. It means supporting institutions of higher education that are building the STEM workforce that drives American innovation and ingenuity—and it means supporting workers with the knowledge, skills, and training they need to pursue careers in this space. Doing all of this takes action in Congress—and serious investments in our communities.”

“It’s clear to me if we want to stay competitive—if we want to stay ahead—we have to stay the course and build on our investments,” Murray continued. “As I have been telling all of my colleagues—our competitors aren’t cutting their investments, and they are not flat-funding them either! Now is not the time to give away our leadership on the world stage.”

“I am incredibly grateful to Senator Murray for her ongoing support of the college and our students. As a workforce college, we provide innovative programs that prepare students to enter the global workforce,” said Dr. Amy Morrison, President of the Lake Washington Institute of Technology. “The Senator’s work to secure $1.1 million in Congressionally Directed Spending for LWTech to install solar panels at the college will ensure the college will reduce non-renewable energy use on campus by creating one of the largest public solar arrays/grids in Washington and provide our students the opportunity to learn and train on solar arrays.”

Participants in the roundtable discussion included Dr. Amy Morrison, President of Lake Washington Institute of Technology; King County Councilmember Claudia Balducci; Robin Toth, Aerospace Director at the Washington State Department of Commerce; Gus Williams, Workforce Development Manager at CleanTech Alliance; and Kristina Hudson, CEO of OneRedmond.

Original source can be found here.