Speeches by Secretary Elaine L. Chao

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Remarks Delivered by
U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao
Chinese Community Center
Houston, Texas
Friday, April 28, 2006

Thank you, Timothy [Shen, former Secretary of the Board, Chinese Community Center].

And thank you, Michael [Koo, Chair, Executive Committee, Chinese Community Center] for the tour of this wonderful center. Congratulations to you and the Chinese Community Center team on your first anniversary in this new facility, which you will celebrate in May.

As former President of the United Way of America and Director of the Peace Corps, I've seen firsthand how organizations like this one can make a difference in their communities. By providing vital services to the Asian Pacific American community and others, you are a lifeline for many. That's why it's so appropriate to tour this facility during National Volunteer Week.

And let me welcome members of The Information Group for Asian American Rights (TIGAAR), who have joined us today. TIGAAR is a collaborative partnership between the U.S. Department of Labor and several organizations serving the Asian Pacific American community here in Houston. TIGAAR helps Asian American workers know their rights in the workplace. And it helps employers understand their responsibilities, so they can comply with our nation's labor laws. It's so important for groups like TIGAAR to link up with community organizations like the Chinese Community Center. The Center provides volunteers to help reach out to the community, especially vulnerable immigrants, so they know their rights are protected under U.S. labor laws. Through its partnership with TIGAAR, the Labor Department has successfully recovered $430,000 in back wages for 403 workers in Houston.

In fact, the Labor Department's targeted enforcement of Wage and Hour laws across the country has led to record recovery of back wages. In 2005, the Department recovered more than $166 million in back wages for 241,000 workers. And since 2001, nearly $880 million dollars in back wages — including overtime — have been recovered for workers. The number of workers receiving back wages increased by more than 11 percent over the last five years. And the total wages collected increased by more than 25 percent.

In addition to back wages, the Department of Labor filed precedent-setting lawsuits to recover millions of dollars and protect the rights of low-wage workers in the poultry processing industry. Many of these workers are vulnerable immigrants.

The Department is also helping all workers be safer on the job. I'm very proud of the fact that there has been an 18.4 percent reduction in the number of workplace injuries and illnesses since 2001. That includes a 16.7 percent reduction in workplace injuries and illnesses in the construction industry. Injuries and illnesses among Hispanic workers, which had increased between 1996 and 2001, have been reduced by 14.4 percent since 2001. And workplace fatalities remain at historically low levels. The last three years have been the lowest since the Bureau of Labor Statistics began collecting this data.

The Labor Department has also set records in enforcing laws that protect workers' health and retirement plans, covering approximately 150 million workers and their dependents and include assets of more than $4 trillion.

Since 2001, DOL has achieved $7.8 billion in monetary results, including $1.7 billion in 2005. Since 2001, DOL has closed over 22,000 civil investigations and 820 criminal investigations, resulting in the indictment of 585 individuals for criminal activity related to employee benefit plans.

So, the U.S. Department of Labor is using every available channel to help protect the health, safety, retirement security and competitiveness of America's workers, especially vulnerable newcomers.

As part of my tour today, I visited the classrooms where students are learning English, and honing new skills that will help them access job opportunities in mainstream America.

So let me tell you about another great resource to help workers find employment. The Department of Labor provides funding for a nationwide network of over 3,500 One-Stop Career Center. There are about 30 One-Stop centers right here in the Houston metropolitan area. They are staffed with caring professionals, who will help you write a resume, connect with local employers who are looking for workers, or access training opportunities. You can find the One Step Center nearest you by calling 1-877-872-5627 or logging onto our website at www.servicelocator.org.

As I mentioned earlier, many community organizations depend upon volunteers to reach out and deliver vital services and protections, especially to vulnerable newcomers. So I want to commend you for everything you are doing to strengthen the Asian community in Houston and to reach out to help those in need. President Bush has often said: "The strength of our country is not our military, it's not our wallet — the strength of our country is the heart and soul of the American people." And volunteers are that heart and soul. They make a real difference.

So thank you for inviting me here today. And thank you for all you are doing to serve the Asian Pacific American Community in Houston, and to serve our country.