WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health, and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies, led a group of 22 other senators in calling for robust funding for the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) – the only federal community service and work-based job training program for low-income or unemployed older Americans. President Trump’s FY 2018 budget proposes to completely eliminate the program. In a letter to Subcommittee Chairman Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) and Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Murphy and the other senators emphasized the critical role SCSEP plays in helping seniors update their skills, save for retirement, and contribute to their communities. The senators warned that cuts to the program would be detrimental to older Americans. 

“SCSEP is the only federal job training program focused exclusively on helping older Americans return to the workforce. Each year, 65,000 older workers representing all states and nearly all 3,000 U.S. counties and territories receive job training in their communities through SCSEP,” wrote the senators. “Older Americans often struggle to find jobs when unemployed, taking 40 weeks on average compared to 24 weeks for their younger counterparts. This period of long-term unemployment has disastrous effects on these Americans lives, both financially and emotionally. Coupled with a looming retirement savings crisis, where a majority of older Americans do not have nearly enough saved for retirement, it is crucial that we allow this program to continue as a lifeline for these workers. Please help to ensure job training for older workers continues by robustly funding the Senior Community Service Employment Program in FY 2018.”

“The socio-economic conditions faced by older Americas are a national concern. Older workers take twice as long as younger workers to find employment, and individuals over 55 make up a growing share of the long-term unemployed,” said Joseph Carbone, President & CEO of The WorkPlace. “Our great appreciation goes to Senator Murphy and the 22 other senators calling for robust funding of SCSEP to support tens of thousands of older workers facing significant employment barriers.” 

In 2016, Connecticut received nearly $4.7 million in SCSEP funding to train 480 seniors. 

Full text of the letter is available online and below:


Dear Chairman Blunt and Ranking Member Murray:

As the subcommittee prepares the fiscal year (FY) 2018 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Bill, we ask that you ensure the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) continues by robustly funding SCSEP at the U.S. Department of Labor.

SCSEP is the only federal job training program focused exclusively on helping older Americans return to the workforce. Through the program, low-income jobseekers, 55 years old or older, update their skills and contribute to their communities through paid, on-the-job training at schools, hospitals, senior centers and other non-profit or public facilities. Each year, 65,000 older workers representing all states and nearly all 3,000 U.S. counties and territories receive job training in their communities through SCSEP. In addition, the program strengthens communities through the extensive service hours performed by SCSEP participants. During the most recent program year, SCSEP exceeded its performance goals, including its entered employment and retention rates.

Older Americans often struggle to find jobs when unemployed, taking 40 weeks on average compared to 24 weeks for their younger counterparts. This period of long-term unemployment has disastrous effects on these Americans lives, both financially and emotionally. Coupled with a looming retirement savings crisis, where a majority of older Americans do not have nearly enough saved for retirement, it is crucial that we allow this program to continue as a lifeline for these workers.

Congress designed SCSEP to foster individual economic self-sufficiency and promote employment of SCSEP participants into unsubsidized jobs. As required by the Older Americans Act, 75% of SCSEP funds are used for wages for participants, who include veterans, individuals with disabilities, rural residents, and other most-in-need older Americans. Cuts to this program therefore directly harm these economically vulnerable Americans.

Please help to ensure job training for older workers continues by robustly funding the Senior Community Service Employment Program in FY 2018. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Christopher S. Murphy

Dick Durbin

Tammy Baldwin

Richard Blumenthal

Sherrod Brown

Dianne Feinstein

Bob Casey

Chis Coons

Al Franken

Kirsten Gillibrand

Tim Kaine

Gary Peters

Brian Schatz

Bernie Sanders

Elizabeth Warren

Robert Menendez

Margaret Hassan

Tammy Duckworth

Jeanne Shaheen

Chris Van Hollen

Ron Wyden

Jeff Merkley

Ed Markey