Americas workforce faced new and
unprecedented challenges in 2001, including many we could never have imagined
before September 11th. But at every turn, working families have demonstrated
why our Nation has the strongest, most skilled, and most vibrant workforce in
the world; the strength of the American economy is the American worker.
Before September 11th, the Department of Labor (DOL) was in high
gear, focusing our efforts on the challenges of the 21st century economy;
closing the skills gap; filling labor shortages; welcoming workers with
disabilities into the workforce; modernizing the labor laws to fit the needs of
a changing economy; and finding innovative ideas to help families balance the
demands of work and home.
In June, DOL hosted the Summit of the 21st Century Workforce. The
new century requires new partnerships and a different way of thinking.
Consequently, the Department went beyond the traditional stakeholders to call
upon all sectors business, academic, labor, and non-profit leaders
to sound the alarm that the workforce is changing faster than anyone
could have imagined.
Around the same time, the economy started showing a slowdown
something then-President-elect George W. Bush had predicted seven months
earlier. But with the Presidents tax cut in the mail and a comprehensive
energy plan in the works, there were clear signs that an economic recovery was
around the corner.
September 11th changed everything. The events of that day sent
shockwaves through the economy. Thousands of lives were lost. The financial
district closed. Airplanes were grounded. Hotel reservations were canceled. The
impact was felt not only in New York, Washington, DC and Pennsylvania, but also
throughout the country. Economic and personal insecurity rippled across the
country and turned an expected recovery into a recession.
Hours after the attack, the Department of Labors 17,000
dedicated professionals went into action. We immediately mobilized federal
workers and OSHA inspectors at Ground Zero. DOL partnered with city officials,
labor unions, and other organizations to protect the health and safety of
rescue and recovery units.
Preparing and protecting American workers are the priorities of the
Department of Labor. Since September 11th, our single most important goal has
been to get Americans back to work.
President George W. Bush summed up his economic plan in one word:
jobs.
He charged DOLs Employment and Training Administration (ETA),
and key stakeholders, with creating and implementing a Back-to-Work
plan. On October 4, 2001, the President announced his plan at the Department,
and proposed $4 billion in National Emergency Grants to provide workers with
needed training, employment services, and health care.
At the same time, Americas One-Stop Career Centers were
assisting new customers with their employment needs. The centers career
counseling helped thousands of displaced workers with job skills and job
placement services.
Swift and compassionate relief to dislocatedworkers has been the
Departments main concern since September 11th, but the war and the
recession have not distracted us from our other priorities.
Early in 2001, I outlined five guiding principles to the
professionals at the Department of Labor. I wanted to remind everyone that the
President would be pursuing a new agenda, including efforts to modernize the
Nations labor laws, encourage faith-based and community solutions, and
streamline Department programs. But I also reiterated the Administrations
commitment that some things at the Department would never change:
- Ensuring the safety and health of every workplace
- Guaranteeing an honest days pay for an honest days
work
- Fighting discrimination wherever and whenever it exists
- Protecting workers from coercion and intimidation
- Safeguarding the pensions of Americas workers
These objectives flow from our overarching strategic goals
APrepared Workforce, A Secure Workforce, Quality Workplaces
that guide the day-to-day work of the Department. I am pleased that
DOLs annual report for FY 2001 will demonstrate continuing progress in
reaching these goals. Here are a few highlights:
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As an employee of the gaseous diffusion plant in Paducah, KY in
the 1950s and 60s, Joe Harding became seriously ill with cancer. Harding was
convinced his illness was caused by exposure to radiation on the job, and
before he died, he worked tirelessly to convince co-workers and elected
officials that radiation levels at the Paducah plant were dangerously high. His
widow Clara kept his message alive, focusing public attention on illnesses and
deaths at the plant and insisting that workers be fairly compensated. Joe
Hardings story was picked up in newspapers and major magazines, and last
fall, Mrs. Harding was invited to testify before Congress. Her testimony helped
lay the groundwork for the 2000 enactment of the Energy Employees Occupational
Illness Compensation Program Act. The Hardings fought for and won an amazing
victory not just for themselves, but for thousands of workers in
Americas nuclear weapons industry. |
Photo
from: Paducah Sun |
- The Departments first responsibility is to protect workers
by enforcing the nations labor laws. In 2001, absences resulting from
workplace injuries and illnesses declined by as much as 36 percent in some of
the most hazardous industries, as OSHA continued its vigorous enforcement
programs and expanded its voluntary compliance and education initiatives.
- DOL has demonstrated its continuing commitment to responsible
stewardship of the resources entrusted to the Department, as reflected by the
fifth consecutive unqualified or clean audit opinion on
the Departments financial statements. This year, we are also proud to
report the successful completion of a multi-year initiative to bring all of the
Departments financial systems into compliance with the standards of the
Federal Financial Management Improvement Act of 1996.
- In pursuing the Presidents commitment to the New Freedom
Initiative, the Department created the Office of Disability Employment Policy
(ODEP). ODEP will assist people with disabilities to achieve rewarding careers
and enable employers to benefit from the contributions of these talented but
severely under-employed workers.
- The Job Corps program continues to demonstrate its
effectiveness in preparing disadvantaged youth for the workforce. A recent
evaluation concluded that the program returns $2 in benefits to society for
every dollar of taxpayers funds invested. Consistent with the
Administrations commitment to link future budget requests with
demonstrated performance, the President is requesting an additional $73 million
in FY 2003 to enable the Job Corps to train and place in employment more of the
Nations most vulnerable young people.
President George W. Bush, shown here being introduced
by Secretary Elaine L. Chao, unveiled his economic recovery plan at
the Department of Labor on October 4, 2001.
Photo by: Tami Heilemann. |
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- DOL played a key role in advancing Trade Promotion Authority
a plan to give the President greater flexibility in opening more ports
for American products and, in turn, creating more jobs for the American people.
- The Department was also assigned a leadership role in the
Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA) of
2000. Congress passed the Act to provide compensation to American workers who
helped fight the Cold War and to the families of these workers. In less than a
year, the Department set up the necessary infrastructure to deliver benefits to
victims in nine States. On August 9, 2001, I went to Paducah, Kentucky to
deliver the compensation programs first check to Clara Harding, the widow
of a former plant worker who died of cancer. By the end of the year, the
Department sent out over 1,000 compensation checks to victims and families
across the Nation.
- The Department worked to improve the safety and health of
Americas mining community. Fatal accidents in Americas mining
industry reached the lowest level ever, despite a tragic accident in Alabama
that claimed the lives of 13 coal miners. DOL issued a challenge to the mine
operators and workers to join with the Department to cut in half, over the next
four years, the number of miners killed and time lost as a result of
work-related injuries.
- The Departments Faith-based and Community Initiatives
Office is helping to fulfill the Presidents pledge to improve the results
of services to the needy by expanding opportunities for faith-based
institutions, with their tradition of successful, grass-roots services, to
participate in DOLs job training and other grant programs.
- In the first year of operations of the Workforce Investment
Acts adult training program, the program showed success in finding good
jobs for participants. Quarterly earnings showed an increase over the
participants pre-enrollment incomes.
- The Office of the 21st Century Workforce, created by President
George W. Bush, serves as a catalyst for change in the workforce, spotlighting
the new realities of the American workplace. The office is focusing on closing
the skills gap, promoting workplace flexibility, and helping families balance
the demands of work and home.
- The Department continued its protection of private retirement
funds. In the first eleven months of the Bush Administration, the Pension and
Welfare Benefits Administration (PWBA) restored $114 million of plan assets,
corrected $290 million in prohibited transactions, recovered $65 million of
pension benefits, and protected $106 million in plan assets.
Although we can proudly record these successes, we also understand
that challenges remain. DOL achieved a lower percentage of our performance
goals in FY 2001 than in either of the previous two fiscal years. We are
committed to achieving our FY 2002 goals, which we have set under the
Government Performance and Results Act, or GPRA.
The federal government is developing greater accountability to its
citizens because of the GPRA. The Act requires the establishment of
department-specific strategic and performance plans, which focus on reaching
key Departmental goals. By establishing a framework for performance-based
management, these strategic plans enable us to meet our citizens needs.
The Department is fully committed to the Presidents vision of a
results-driven Government and this report discusses the steps the Department
will take to raise our performance in future years.
The performance and financial data presented in this report is
fundamentally complete and reliable as outlined in the guidance available from
the Office of Management and Budget. While we have identified no material
inadequacies, this report describes our continuing efforts to strengthen the
quality and timeliness of the Department's performance information to increase
its value to both DOL managers and constituents. The results achieved for each
FY 2001 goal are either discussed in this report or will be included in a
future annual report. The Departments managers routinely use this
performance information and financial data to improve the quality of DOL
services and to formally account for the accomplishments of their programs.
In the next year, the Department of Labor will continue to fulfill
its enduring vision:
We will promote the economic well-being of workers and their
families; help them share in the American dream through rising wages,
pensions, health benefits and expanded economic opportunities; and
foster safe and healthy workplaces that are free from discrimination.
In 2001, America crossed the threshold into a new millennium.
Opportunities and challenges, triumphs and tragedies await the Nation at every
turn. Throughout these changing times, the American worker proved that this
Nation remains the most vibrant, skilled, and innovative economy the world has
ever known; the strength of the American economy is the American worker.
Elaine L. Chao
Secretary of Labor