U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

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Office of Public Affairs

OPA Press Release: Chao Says Department of Labor Will Hold On to Nuclear Workers Program[04/18/2001]

WASHINGTON - Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao today called an end to Administration plans to move the nuclear workers compensation program from the Labor Department to another federal agency.

We want to help the workers, and while the Department of Labor may not be the ideal place to house the program, we can't let the best be the enemy of the good," Chao said. "My sole concern has been for the workers who have been wronged by their government in the service of their country. What they need now is certainty and results.

"The one thing people have realized is how unlikely the July 31^st deadline was from the very beginning, and I hope we can reach agreement on a more reasonable date, while making benefits fully retroactive.

"The first down payment we need to make with affected workers and their families is to tell them the truth.

"The Labor Department staff hasn't stopped working on implementing this program, even during discussions on moving it elsewhere. We haven't lost any time, but we also haven't changed the reality that this Department was never ready to fully implement this program by July 31," Chao said.

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