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FY 2003 Annual Performance Plan - The FY 2003 BudgetA 21st Century Department of Labor 3. The FY 2003 BudgetA 21st Century Department of Labor The Department of Labors FY 2003 budget and annual performance plan were developed with the goal of serving the needs of the 21st Century Workforce. This chapter highlights new budget initiatives that are instrumental to achieving this goal. The FY 2003 budget is serving the needs of the 21st Century Workforce on many fronts. The Departments FY 2003 budget reflects the amounts necessary to address the challenges that workers face in a changing economy and workforce and also supports the achievement of three overarching national goals: winning the war against terrorism, strengthening protections of our homeland, and revitalizing our economy and creating jobs. This budget will also advance the Presidents government-wide management reform agenda, ensuring that the Department serves taxpayers in the most cost-effective manner. Finally, the Department will play a key role in furthering President George W. Bushs economic agenda, which can be summarized in one word: jobs. From ensuring a workforce that is prepared for 21st Century challenges to providing a secure retirement to the Nations laborers, the Department of Labor will be there. The total request for the Department in FY 2003 is $56.5 billion in budget authority and 17,179 full-time equivalents. The request for the Departments discretionary programs is $11.4 billion. The programs and initiatives funded by this budget are managed through the framework of strategic and outcome goals presented in Chapter 4 of this plan. These presentations also include the allocation of the Departments budget authority and outlays to each of the strategic and outcome goals, illustrating the resources required to accomplish DOLs core program objectives. The introduction to Chapter 4 includes a description of our methodology for computing these allocations, and Appendix B lists the budget activities that support each outcome goal. Focus on the 21st Century Workforce In support of this mission, Secretary Chao hosted the Summit on the 21st Century Workforce on June 20, 2001. The Summit was a rousing success as President Bush and leaders from business, labor, academia, and government joined the Secretary to address the structural changes affecting our workforce and our economy. The mission of this Office became even more critical in the wake of the events of September 11. Just last month, DOL took additional steps to assist workers in a still-sluggish economy. The Office of the 21st Century Workforce held a day-long jobs and skills fair to help put the Washington, D.C., region back to work. Everything was in one place -- information on job opportunities, access to employers in nearly all fields, and information on training, certification, skills, and education. In addition, attendees had one-stop access to the full range of government services for workers in transition. Economic Security Package Unemployment Insurance Reform Retirement Security Job Corps According to a thorough and objective economic impact study published last year, the dollar value of benefits that Job Corps generates for society is more than twice what the taxpayers invest. At the Presidents FY 2003 request, Job Corps will enroll more than 73,000 new students. In addition, the Presidents 2003 budget request also contains measures to further improve the quality of Job Corps services to disadvantaged young people and the employers who hire Job Corps graduates. Implementing the Presidents Management Agenda In August 2001, Secretary Chao created a new Departmental entity, the Management Review Board (MRB), to better manage the Departments progress against these reforms and to coordinate action on management initiatives that cross-cut Departmental agencies and should have common solutions. Through the MRB, the Department has in place a management process that complements the Presidents Management Council, thus facilitating consistency in Departmental decision-making. As described above and in the goals, measures, and strategies in Chapter 4, the Department is well prepared to serve the needs of the 21st Century workforce. That is both our goal and mission. This plan describes the results that the Department is committed to achieve on behalf of the Nations workers with the resources the Department is requesting for FY 2003. |
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