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As Prepared
U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao
Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program Grant Announcement
Frances Perkins Building
Great Hall
June 30, 2003
3:00 PM
Thank you Fred [Juarbe, Assistant Secretary for VETS].
I would like to welcome the Secretary of Veteran Affairs, Anthony Principi, the Executive Director of the National Coalition of Homeless Veterans, Linda Boone, the Executive Director of the Interagency Council on Homelessness, Phillip Mangano as well as the representatives of other veterans
service organizations who are with us today.
I would also like to recognize a very special guest, Dexter Daniels, a recent graduate of the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program—his story is an inspiration to all homeless veterans.
Our veterans are a precious legacy. They have dedicated their lives to serving America and protecting freedom across the globe.
We are grateful for all they have done and will do for this nation.
In fact, nearly 3,000 veterans, reservists and National Guard members currently work here at the Department of Labor. And the Department has an active American Legion Post serving our veterans.
In reciprocation, we are committed to helping our men and women in uniform when they leave the service.
That’s why we are announcing today nearly $18 million in grants to groups and organizations dedicated to helping reintegrate homeless veterans into the labor force.
Through the Department’s Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program, almost 10,000 American vets across 18 states will receive occupational training, remedial education, placement assistance and other key services. We want to do all we can to help them get back on their feet again.
President George W. Bush and this Administration are deeply dedicated to making sure that no veteran is left behind – that we help these men and women regain self-sufficiency and self-respect.
While the Department of Labor is proud to take the lead in providing services to homeless vets, we know that we cannot do it alone.
Only by working with other federal agencies like Housing and Urban Development, Health and Human Services, and Veterans Affairs can we successfully provide our vets an opportunity to regain the livelihood they once had.
It is for this reason that Secretary Principi has joined us today. Together, we can make a difference for those Americans who need and deserve our help—America’s veterans and their families.
Secretary Principi is well known to the veterans community for his long career as an advocate for America’s men and women in uniform. He served as Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and then Acting Secretary of Veterans Affairs in the Administration of President George Herbert Walker
Bush. He also served for many years as chief counsel, counsel and staff director of the Senate Armed Services Committee. And in 1996, Secretary Principi was Chairman of the Commission on Service members and Veterans Transition Assistance.
Secretary Principi is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, holds a law degree from Seton Hall University and is a combat veteran of the Vietnam War. He is doing a great job serving the veterans community for the President and it gives me great pleasure to welcome him here today.
Secretary Principi….
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I want to thank Secretary Principi, Fred Juarbe, Chic Ciccolella, Linda Boone, Phillip Mangano and all the other representatives of veterans service organizations for coming today. And a special thanks to the Message of Hope choir for joining us. And finally, I want to commend our very special
guest, Dexter Daniels, for sharing his story with us.
So thank you everyone for coming. Have a great July 4th holiday and God Bless America!
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