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Remarks Prepared for Delivery by
U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao
Recognizing Heroes in the Workforce
National Press Club
Washington, D.C.
Thursday, October 20, 2005
Thank you, Craig [Duehring, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of
Defense for Reserve Affairs].
We have some very special guests with us today in addition to Mr. Duehring.
I am delighted that former Senator Bob Dole could join us, as well as members
of the D.C. National Guard.
And let me welcome leaders from America's Veteran Service Organizations.
These organizations play a very special role as advocates for our nation's
veterans.
Finally, members of the President's Hire Vets First Committee and employer
representatives are also with us.
Today, men and women in uniform defend freedom around the world and work
to bring hope to victims of the Hurricanes along the Gulf Coast. As they
give their best for us, we want to be there for them.
The Department of Labor is doing everything possible to assist veterans
when they transition to the civilian workforce and to protect the rights
of returning members of the National Guard and Reserves.
At the Department, we believe in leading by example. I am honored to have
more than 3,200 veterans, reservists and National Guard members working at
the Labor Department as part of our team.
The Department also plays a very special role in assisting members of the
Guard and Reserve. It enforces the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment
Rights Act (USERRA). That's the law that protects the jobs, health insurance
coverage and pension benefits of our citizen-soldiers. This Administration
is backing up USERRA with aggressive outreach and enforcement to ensure employers
fully understand the law and service members have confidence that their rights
will be protected.
The Department and the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard
and Reserve recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding. It strengthens
our cooperative efforts to protect the jobs and benefits of National Guard
and Reserve service members when they return from duty.
We have also taken action to make the USERRA law more understandable by
publishing proposed rules, which will soon be final. They are comprehensive
and written in plain English. For the first time, they provide clear and
consistent guidance on how the law applies to each and every employer and
employee.
ESGR has been doing a remarkable job of building support among employers
across the nation. And I am honored to have the opportunity, on behalf of
the Department of Labor, to sign the Statement of Support, promising our
support to the brave men and women who serve in our National Guard and Reserve.
The Department of Labor offers a number of training and assistance programs
to help veterans navigate the process of building a new career in the civilian
workforce. The good news for returning veterans is that the demand for skilled
talent is very strong. New jobs are being created every day and they're good
paying jobs. Many of these new jobs require more education and higher skills.
And there is no better place to look for a highly educated, highly motivated
pool of talent than our nation's veterans.
The Department's job is to help get the word out to employers. Veterans
have the technical skills and the values needed for success—dependability,
teamwork, dedication and leadership.
Employers are always seeking to recruit the best and brightest to ensure
the success of their organizations. Some of our nation's best and brightest
are easy to spot, they wear a military uniform.
When an employer is looking to find the right person for the job, we want
them to think of the motto: “Hire Vets First.”
I am very grateful that Senator Bob Dole is with us today. As you will see
in a few moments, Senator Dole helped us with a special message to spread
the word about the value that veterans bring to the workforce. As U.S.
News and World Report noted earlier this week, we are calling “Lt.
Bob Dole” back into service to urge employers to hire veterans.
Senator Dole is one of our nation's most beloved public figures. In addition
to his lifelong service to our country as a member of the House and Senate,
the Senator has been a lifetime advocate for veterans and veterans' issues.
His service to our nation during World War Two and his remarkable story
of overcoming adversity is an inspiration to us all.
Thank you, Senator Dole. This powerful message will certainly help get the
message out to Hire Vets First.
Today another generation of brave men and women continue to defend freedom
for us all. For that reason, President Bush proclaimed October 16th through
the 22nd National Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Week. In his
proclamation the President said, “As we continue to fight terrorism and advance
peace around the world, Americans stand strongly and proudly behind the
men and women of the National Guard and Reserve, and we express our appreciation
for the commitment of their employers.”
President Bush's steadfast support for our men and women in uniform is the
driving force and inspiration in strengthening the Department of Labor's
on-going efforts.
Thank you all for joining us today as we honor veterans and their strong
contributions to America's workforce.
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