SHAHEEN: JOB TRAINING IS INTEGRAL TO OUR FUTURE ECONOMIC SUCCESS

(Merrimack, N.H.) – To keep our economy competitive we must invest in workforce training, U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) said today during a tour of Elbit Systems of America’s Merrimack facility. 

Through New Hampshire’s job training fund, Elbit has received three grants and invested its own matching funds to help workers acquire the skills needed to perform high-tech manufacturing jobs at its Merrimack plant.  Shaheen, who helped create the state fund as governor, discussed her efforts to support similar programs at the federal level.

“Advanced manufacturing firms like Elbit create high-paying jobs and help us maintain our technological edge in the global economy, but their success hinges on a highly skilled workforce,” Shaheen said.  “Workforce training programs are a way to support the good jobs and quality products such companies provide by ensuring they have skilled employees to hire.  I will continue to push for job training programs in Congress that benefit both workers and employers.” 

Shaheen has been an ardent advocate for worker training and spoke out in support of an expansion of the Trade Adjustment Assistance Act (TAA) Congress passed this fall.  In September, New Hampshire was awarded a $20 million grant to train workers in advanced manufacturing skills as part of TAA.  Shaheen also introduced a bipartisan bill with U.S. Senator Thad Cochran (R-MS) that would encourage companies to increase on-the-job training.