ICYMI: Senator Murray Tours Renton Technical College, Highlights Importance of Investing in Workforce Training and Career and Technical Education

Senator Murray secured $2.6 million in federal funding for Renton Technical College's air and space manufacturing program

Murray has led Congressional efforts to expand investments in workforce training along with career and technical education-the last time both the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act and Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act were reauthorized were when she helped lead negotiations-they have not been reauthorized since; Murray continues to call for the major updates and reauthorization of these programs

As the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, she fights to protect funding for programs that support workers including CTE and WIOA programs

***PHOTOS AND B-ROLL HERE***

Renton, WA - U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, toured Renton Technical College and met with students, educators, and aerospace industry leaders to hear how the college will utilize the $2.6 million she secured in the FY26 appropriations package, to invest in the future of the air and space manufacturing workforce in the Kent Valley, through instruction, new technology, and new equipment for their program.

The $2.6 million federal investment strengthens economic mobility and prepares local talent for local, high-demand jobs in the Kent Valley's air and space manufacturing sectors-one of the state's most critical economic and national security regions. The Kent Valley generates $27 billion in annual output and supports more than 55,000 jobs in aerospace and advanced manufacturing. The funding will go towards equipment and lab enhancements, increasing access to industry aligned education and credentials, and for faculty and workforce development, employer and youth development, creating clear transitions from K-12 to postsecondary training and employment to ensure students can compete for high growth manufacturing roles.

Senator Murray was joined by Dr. Yoshiko Harden, President of Renton Technical College; Dr. Stephanie Delaney, Vice President for Instruction at Renton Technical College; Shannon Matson, Dean of Advanced Manufacturing at Renton Technical College; Jeremy Thorn, Mechatronics Instructor at Renton Technical College; Tim Nguyen, Technical Support Analyst at Renton Technical College; Carrie Shaw, Executive Director at Renton Technical College Foundation; Elizabeth Roa, Student at Renton Technical College; Yves Perez-Velasquez, Student at Renton Technical College; Eli Finegood, Student at Renton Technical College; Mirella Valle, IT work study student at Renton Technical College and a student representative on the RTC Foundation Board; Mason King, Volunteer Lab Tech at Renton Technical College; Armondo Pavone, Mayor of Renton; Dana Ralph, Mayor of Kent; Nancy Backus, Mayor of Auburn; Eric Perry, Government Affairs Director, City of Renton; Michelle Wilmot, Economic Development at City of Kent; George Frasier, Interim President of Green River College; Jamie Fitzgerald, Interim Vice President of Instruction at Green River College; and Lea Ann Simpson, Interim Dean of Business & Law and Trades at Green River College.

"It has been amazing to see firsthand how federal investments I helped secure are making sure the next generation of Washington's workforce have the tools they need to succeed-especially in aerospace and advanced manufacturing. This funding is helping expand instruction, upgrade technology, and give students hands-on experience with the tools they'll use on the job. That's critical for keeping Washington at the forefront of aerospace innovation. These investments make our students, our workforce, and our economy stronger," said Senator Murray. "We're going to keep investing in education and our workforce-and we're not going to abolish the Department of Education."

Last year, Renton Technical College also received an over $1.36 million TRIO grant from the Department of Education, to hire staff and provide services to increase the persistence, academic good standing, transfer, and graduation rates. Senator Murray has long advocated for funding for the Federal TRIO Programs (TRIO)-which Trump proposed eliminating last year-which provides outreach and student services programs for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds. TRIO includes eight programs targeted to serve and assist low-income individuals, first-generation college students, and individuals with disabilities to progress through the academic pipeline from middle school to post-baccalaureate programs. Senator Murray also secured $750,000 in FY26 for Green River College to support higher education for military families.

Senator Murray has long championed efforts to strengthen Washington's workforce. Senator Murray negotiated and helped pass the bipartisan Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act in 2018, which updated and reauthorized the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education (CTE) Act to update job training and CTE programs to meet the needs of local economies in the 21^st century. Senator Murray also authored and led passage of the bipartisan Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)-landmark legislation to strengthen the nation's workforce development programs, help Americans-including youth and those facing significant barriers to employment-acquire high-quality jobs and careers, and assist employers in hiring and retaining skilled workers. Murray continues to lead efforts to expand investments in workforce training and technical education.

Senator Murray continues to lead the charge against the Trump administration's attempts to dismantle the Department of Education (ED) by spinning off critical education responsibilities, such as CTE programs, to other agencies, harming students and threatening workforce education programs across the country. Last June, she wrote a letter to Department of Education (ED) Secretary Linda McMahon calling out the Department's illegal efforts to attempt to transfer responsibility over CTE programs to the Department of Labor (DOL), and called out the moves in a July statement. Senator Murray condemned the Department of Education's continued attempts to illegally transfer CTE responsibility to the DOL in September. In December, Senator Murray led her colleagues in sending a letter to Secretary McMahon slamming ED's recent announcement that it has signed interagency agreements (IAAs) to illegally outsource core functions that students and their families rely on-and calling on her to reverse these latest steps to dismantle ED. At a HELP hearing in December, Senator Murray questioned witnesses on how ED's IAAs are undermining education, as the plan to illegally transfer responsibility of CTE and adult education programs to the Department of Labor will lead to technical problems, communications breakdowns, bureaucratic hurdles, and logistical issues at the agency.

Senator Murray has aggressively pushed back against Secretary McMahon's efforts to dismantle the Department, including through the illegal use of IAAs, and she fought to insert ironclad language in the fiscal year 2026 funding bill for the Department that would bar Secretary McMahon's use of IAAs to dismantle the Department-but Republicans refused to include new, binding language. The final agreement did, however, make clear there is no legal authority for the Department of Education to set aside core responsibilities through these agreements.

As Senate Appropriations Vice Chair, Murray prioritizes protecting investments in workforce training and development, securing $1.45 billion in FY 2026 for CTE grants, and $729 million for adult education grants, to continue investing in further education programs that prepare Americans for the workforce. Senator Murray rejected calls to cut funding to adult education and CTE funding and included language in the bill to ensure the funds are distributed in a timely manner. The FY26 bill also rejects cuts to WIOA and apprenticeship programs, with Senator Murray securing $2.9 billion in funding. Senator Murray also secured $1.191 billion for TRIO, in the FY26 appropriations bill, pushing back on Trump's proposal to eliminate the program last year. In FY26 Senator Murray also secured $1 million for the Workforce Development Council of Seattle, King County to expand the healthcare work force. In FY24 Senator Murray secured $4.5 million for the Machinists Institute to support sustainable aviation fuel workforce development.

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