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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><img width="229" height="74" id="_x0000_i1025" src="cid:image001.png@01CF3A15.1DD423C0"></b><b><o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><o:p> </o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For Immediate Release<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>March 7, 2014<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">CONTACT: Charlie Burr, (971) 673-0788<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt">Avakian praises legislature’s commitment to workforce competitiveness and child care for working parents<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color:black">PORTLAND—</span></b><span style="color:black">Oregon Labor and Industries Commissioner Brad Avakian today praised the 2014 Oregon Legislature for its efforts to strengthen the state’s workforce and increase
child care for working parents. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">With passage of the budget (HB 5201), the Oregon Legislature took action on two items recommended by the Oregon Council on Civil Rights’
<i>Pay Inequality in Oregon </i>report: <b>expanded funds for Employment Related Day Care</b> (ERDC) and
<b>increased investment in career education and modern shop classes</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="color:black">“This legislature saw a bipartisan group of lawmakers make smart investments in 21<sup>st</sup> century shop classes and job readiness. Oregon’s competitiveness and ability to create well-paying
jobs depends on the availability of a well-trained, highly skilled workforce. I greatly appreciate the $2 million investment in career and technical education secured by a diverse group of labor, business and education advocates.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in"><span style="color:black">In addition, more working parents will see relief from the rising cost of child care with today’s $2.2 million investment in the Employment Related Day Care. That’s good news for Oregon
families and our economy as a whole.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black">See Sections 88 and 89 of HB 5201 for the $2.2 million in ERDC funding and Section 61 for the $2 million CTE investment.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="color:black">###<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoFooter"><b><u><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif""><o:p><span style="text-decoration:none"> </span></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoFooter"><b><u><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">About BOLI<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoFooter"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">The mission of the Bureau of Labor and Industries is to protect employment rights, advance employment opportunities, and provide for equal access to housing and public accommodations
free from discrimination.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Charlie Burr<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Communications Director<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Bureau of Labor and Industries<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">800 NE Oregon St., Ste. 1045<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Portland, OR 97232-2180<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">(971) 673-0788 wk.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">(503) 913-5407 cell.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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