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House funds $1 million package to assist workers hit by defense downsizing
Summary
House passed House Bill 358 to create a governor-directed program for workers displaced by Department of Defense downsizing; members reduced the appropriation to $1,000,000 via amendment and emphasized using funds to attract industry and support entrepreneurship as well as retraining.
Representative Grant Proxman presented HB 358 to address job losses from defense downsizing, telling the House it would help workers and related businesses statewide and cited estimates that between 3,000 and 5,000 people could be affected within a year. The bill would appropriate funds to the governor for coordinating assistance to (1) Department of Defense employees, (2) defense-related employers and (3) defense-related businesses.
Representative Stevens moved to bracket the $1,500,000 fiscal amount in the bill and insert $1,000,000 to align with prior executive appropriations committee priorities; the amendment passed and was incorporated into the bill. Representative Chard declared a potential conflict but said he supported the concept. Debate included discussion about prioritizing placement into existing skilled jobs versus retraining and adding higher-education institutions into program eligibility; a committee amendment adding 'higher education institutions' to page 3, line 2 was accepted.
The House passed HB 358 by recorded vote (61 affirmative, 8 negative) and referred it to the Senate for further consideration. Supporters framed the measure as a flexible, governor-managed response to an economic shock that could also attract new industry to use existing skilled labor. Closing comments emphasized that the appropriation would help community colleges and higher-education partners deliver training and support small business start-ups.
