1. Purpose. To inform states and other Department of Labor (DOL)-funded workforce investment system partners of the veterans' priority provisions of the "Jobs for Veterans Act"
and to provide general guidance as to the implementation of these provisions.
2. References. "Jobs for Veterans Act" (Pub. L.107-288)
3. Background. On November 2, 2002, President Bush signed the "Jobs for Veterans Act"
(Pub. L. 107-288). Section 2(a) of the Act 38 U.S.C. 4215(a) creates a priority of service for veterans (and some spouses) "who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for participation" in DOL training programs.
Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao has announced the appointment of 18 members to the Native American Employment and Training Council. The Council's first 2003 meeting will be held Sept. 9 at 9:00 a.m. at the U.S. Labor Department's Frances Perkins Building.
"This Administration is committed to matching employers looking for workers with unemployed workers seeking jobs so that no American worker is left behind," said Chao. "The members of this council help accomplish that goal by focusing on the first Americans, helping the Department of Labor achieve the goal of placing unemployed Native Americans in real jobs with promising futures."
The U.S. Department of Labor announced a partnership with Diamond Triumph Auto Glass, Inc. to assist in training, recruiting and hiring automotive glass installers and other personnel in Pennsylvania and five other states. The partnership is a result of the Employment and Training Administration's Partnerships for Jobs initiative.
"The Partnerships for Jobs initiative was created to build bridges between businesses and job seekers in local communities," said Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training Emily Stover DeRocco. "These business partnerships link large, national employers with local One-Stop Career Centers, demonstrating how a demand-driven workforce system can more efficiently serve the workforce needs of business, while also effectively helping workers find good jobs at good wages."
U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao announced a National Emergency Grant totaling $3.2 million to aid approximately 581 workers dislocated from Pillowtex Corporation's Fieldale, Va., facility. Of the total, $1 million will be available immediately.
"This Administration is committed to help Pillowtex workers get the training and support services they need to find new jobs, and that's what this $3.2 million grant will help accomplish," said Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao. "In addition, Rapid Response teams are already helping workers with their pension and health benefits. We will not be satisfied until every worker who wants to work can find a job."
U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao has announced a National Emergency Grant of up to $4,126,936 to aid approximately 1,000 workers who were laid off from 12 companies in South Central Wisconsin. The grant will help workers dislocated from: CUNA & Affiliates/CUNA Mutual; Eldon Office Products; En Chem; Humana, Inc.; Johnson Controls; J-Star; Kmart; Kohl's Food Stores; Mayville Engineering Company; Nestles Purina PetCare/Friskies; Planar, and TAB Products.
"The President and I are committed to getting Wisconsin's displaced workers the skills training they need to find new jobs," Chao said. "The $4.1 million in funds from the Department of Labor will be deployed as quickly as possible to help these Wisconsin workers."
The U.S. Department of Labor today awarded $1.5 million to the High Plains Technology Center in Woodward, Okla., to develop and provide training for gas and oil industry workers. The grant is part of the Bush Administration's High Growth Job Training Initiative, a multi-faceted strategic plan to build a public workforce system that responds to the challenges facing American businesses with training opportunities for workers.
"This $1.5 million grant reflects President Bush's goal of leaving no worker behind," said Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao. "This High Growth Job Training Initiative gives unemployed workers the opportunity to access training that will help them become better qualified for available jobs. This initiative will help those already employed to advance further up the career ladder."
