SENATE BILL REPORT

SJM 8032

As Reported By Senate Committee On:

Economic Development, February 4, 2004

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

Sponsors: Senators Schmidt, T. Sheldon, Shin, Hale, B. Sheldon and McAuliffe.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Economic Development: 1/30/04, 2/4/04 [DPS].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Joint Memorial No. 8032 be substituted therefor, and the substitute joint memorial do pass.

      Signed by Senators T. Sheldon, Chair; Zarelli, Vice Chair; Benton, Hale, Kohl-Welles, Murray, Schmidt 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 Substitute 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.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill: The substitute provides that copies of the memorial are to be submitted to each member of Congress.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Testimony For: Manufacturing in the US is under a lot of global pressure. Washington Manufacturing Service has worked with hundreds of manufacturers but without support from the federal government, the service will lose its ability to make an impact. The Governor supports sending this message to Congress.

Testimony Against: None.

Testified: PRO: Senator Schmidt; Ron Newbry, WA Economic Development Assoc. & WA Manufacturing Service; John Vicklund, WA Manufacturing Service; Sheila Martin, Governor's Office.