SENATE BILL REPORT

SHJM 4032

As Reported By Senate Committee On:

Economic Development, February 20, 2004

Brief Description: Urging Congress to fully restore funding for the manufacturing extension partnership program.

Sponsors: House Committee on Trade & Economic Development (originally sponsored by Representatives Eickmeyer, Skinner, Pettigrew, Chase, McDonald, Kristiansen, McCoy, Wallace, Priest, Condotta, Blake, Clements, Conway, Anderson, Edwards, Morrell, Campbell, Upthegrove, Kenney, Kessler and Wood).

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Economic Development: 2/18/04, 2/20/04 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Majority Report: Do pass.

      Signed by Senators T. Sheldon, Chair; Hale, Murray, B. Sheldon and Shin.

Staff: Jack Brummel (786-7428)

Background: The Manufacturing Extension Partnership is a federal initiative operated at the state level. It is designed to provide technical assistance to small manufacturers and is supported with federal, state, and private funds. Washington operates its partnership through the Washington Manufacturing Service. The federal funds available nationwide for the partnership are scheduled to be reduced from $109 million to $39 million. This reduction of nearly two-thirds in funding will hurt the ability of the Washington Manufacturing Service to assist manufacturers in Washington.

Summary of Bill: The Senate and the House of Representatives request that Congress fully restore funding for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership program in the fiscal year 2004 appropriation.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Testimony For: Manufacturing jobs from large companies are going overseas. Small manufacturers are replacing some of these job losses. Many smaller firms cannot afford a full time engineer. The money for technical assistance should be increased not reduced.

Testimony Against: None.

Testified: PRO: Representative Eickmeyer, prime sponsor; Ron Newbry, WA. Manufacturing Services.