Is USAID really helping feed outsourcing?

Congressman Patrick Murphy (D-Bucks County) says he is outraged that American tax dollars would help train workers in South Asia.

A Bucks County Congressman is denouncing a new U.S. Agency for International Development program he says is using millions of taxpayer dollars to train South Asian workers to take American jobs.

Congressman Patrick Murphy says USAID plans to use $10 million in taxpayer money to provide 3,000 workers in Asia with English language proficiency classes as well as training in IT skills, call center support, and business process outsourcing.

“Why we would ever send $10 million to train people to do the jobs that we could do even better here in America is beside me, and is outrageous. We need to protect American jobs for American workers. To spend a penny – much less $10 million, to ship American jobs overseas, is crazy.”

In a written statement, a USAID spokeswoman says the training is part of a post-conflict recovery program to spur development across a range of sectors, including horticulture, construction and garment manufacturing, in war-torn areas of Sri Lanka. USAID says the program will not displace American IT workers.