Speeches by Secretary Elaine L. Chao

Printer-Friendly Version

Secretary Elaine L Chao
Interagency Firefighter Apprenticeship Program Remarks
June 25, 2002

Thank you …

Let me also recognize Secretaries Veneman and Norton, and Rick Brown from the National Federation of Federal Employees.

What we are doing today is very important to the nation.

As we are all aware, this comes at a time when the Western states are in the midst of the most incendiary fire seasons in memory. It also comes at a time when the nation is beginning to face a critical shortage of qualified firefighters. 

The interagency apprenticeship agreement we are signing today will help put thousands of new well- trained firefighters into the field. 

It will also open up exciting and rewarding careers paths for Job Corps students – like Hattie Hobbs, the student firefighter from our Pine Ridge Job Corps Center. 

And it will help us address critical firefighter training standards and safety issues.

Over the next five years, over 2,000 apprentices will go through one of the most demanding and comprehensive apprenticeship programs we have sponsored to date. They will learn everything from building personal safety shelters to rappelling off helicopters. 

No other generation of firefighters will be as well prepared and drilled in safety measures as this one. And this is the way it should be, as they have to tackle one of nature’s most powerful forces – wildfires. 

“Breathing smoke” – as they call firefighting – may be hard work, but it is immensely rewarding and popular work.

Last year alone, over 800 student volunteers from Job Corps centers across the nation worked with professional fire fighting crews to protect thousands of acres of land and lives.

In fact, firefighting is rapidly becoming one of Job Corps most sought after career paths – as it opens opportunities in fire departments, the forestry industry, and conservation work.

The US Department of Labor is truly proud to join with the US Departments of Agriculture and Interior to help develop such a necessary and enriching apprenticeship program.

Our Department stands ready to partner with other federal agencies and trades to develop similar creative apprenticeship initiatives. 

Registered apprenticeship programs are the best way we know how to bridge the skills gap and help young people and dislocated workers find a lifetime of job opportunity.

Thank you …

# # #

_________________________________________________________________

U.S. Labor Department news releases are accessible on the Internet at www.dol.gov. The information in this release will be made available in alternate format upon request (large print, Braille, audio tape or disc)from the COAST office. Please specify which news release when placing your request. Call 202-693-7773 or TTY 202-693-7755.