|
 Printer-Friendly Version
Remarks Prepared for Delivery by
U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao
The Home Depot News Conference
Washington, D.C.
Tuesday, September 21, 2004
Thank you, Bob [Nardelli, CEO, Home Depot].
It's a pleasure to be here with Bob Nardelli, Secretary Principi, Under
Secretary Chu and some of our brave veterans to announce this partnership
to provide job opportunities for America's returning soldiers and their spouses.
I also want to recognize Emily DeRocco, Assistant Secretary for Employment
and Training and Fred, Juarbe, Assistant Secretary for Veterans Employment
and Training, Chic Ciccolella, the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Veterans
Employment and Training—and their staffs from the Labor Department. They've
worked very hard on this important initiative.
Today's announcement is a great example of how the public and private sectors
can work together to honor our military veterans and their families by ensuring
that they have good career opportunities when they come home
Home Depot has already hired 15,000 veterans. Through Operation
Career Front, Home Depot will continue to reach out to
veterans, separating and retiring service members, and the spouses of
active service members. And the Labor Department will be there to support
them—and any other employer interested in tapping this terrific pool
of talent.
Through a publicly funded nationwide network of 3,500 One-Stop Career Centers,
the Labor Department will recruit, train and help these brave veterans find
employment. We want to ensure that the veterans' valuable skills and proven
leadership ability translate into jobs. In addition, the Department is launching
a “Hire Veterans First” campaign. It's part of a national effort to raise
awareness of the loyalty, discipline and can-do attitude that veterans bring
to the workforce.
Another part of this Administration's commitment to our men and women in
uniform is the Labor Department's just released, first-ever comprehensive
regulations on USERRA. USERRA stands for “The Uniformed Services Employment
and Reemployment Rights Act.” This law, which the Labor Department aggressively
enforces, protects the jobs, pay and seniority of National Guard members
and Reservists. These men and women are a critical part of the frontline
forces in the war against terrorism. And this administration is committed to
protecting their re-employment rights.
Our men and women in uniform are there for us when we need them. Now it's
our turn to be there for them. That's why I am proud the Labor Department
is working with Home Depot and others on this innovative employment initiative.
And I encourage other employers to join with us in reaching out to returning
service men and women, so they can them build bright futures for themselves
and their families.
Thank you.
# # #
_________________________________________________________________
| 
