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Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.
OPA News Release: [02/02/2004]
Contact Name: Bob
Zachariasiewicz
Phone Number: (202) 693-4686
Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao Announces 2005 Spending
Plan
WASHINGTON—Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao today announced
details of the Department of Labor’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2005 request of
$57.3 billion, of which $45.4 billion is mandatory and $11.9 billion is in
discretionary budget authority, and 17,419 full-time staff.
New programs encompassed in this budget include $250 million for new
worker training programs that tap the expertise of the nation’s community
and technical colleges and a $50 million pilot program on Personal Reemployment
Accounts. The accounts will allow unemployed workers more flexibility in
choosing services that meet their individual needs.
“The 2005 budget reflects the Administration’s commitment to
support and protect America’s workers, with special emphasis on
training,” said Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao. “The
department’s 2005 spending plan was designed to ensure that workers are
prepared to compete in an increasingly global economy,” continued Chao.
“This Administration won’t rest until every worker who wants a job
can find one.”
The department’s FY 2005 budget was developed around four major
themes designed to make a difference in the lives of America’s working
families: Innovative Programs to Help Workers Find Jobs; Protecting
Workers with Stronger Enforcement and Accountability; Protecting
America’s Immigrant Workforce; and Building a 21st
Century Department of Labor.
To ensure that workers are prepared for the challenges they will meet in
2005, the department has set specific strategic goals. The first two goals,
A Prepared Workforce and A Secure Workforce, are focused on ensuring
that workers are secure in the skills and abilities to do their jobs
effectively. A third goal, Quality Workplaces, is aimed at ensuring that
workplaces are safe and meet safety standards as required by law and
administered by the U.S. Labor Department. The FY 2005 budget addresses a
newly-developed fourth goal: A Competitive Workforce, which focuses on
equipping workers to adapt to rapidly-evolving challenges while promoting job
flexibility and minimizing regulatory burden.
Community Colleges Initiative:
Training Workers for High-Growth Jobs
To support the department’s goal of developing A Competitive
Workforce, the Community College initiative provides $250 million for a
new, employment-focused competitive grant that will leverage the expertise of
the nation’s community and technical colleges and help workers wishing to
retool, refine, and broaden their skills.
Personal Reemployment
Accounts
The $50 million for the Personal Reemployment Accounts program would
allow worker flexibility in selecting services, which will help them return to
work, and be incentive-based. Under the plan, States would offer up to $3,000
to eligible unemployed workers. These resources could be applied to training
and services that best benefit each individual candidate. This program would
allow the recipients to keep the balance of the account as a cash bonus if they
find a job within 13 weeks.
Worker Protection and Retirement
Security
The department is proposing a $40 million increase in worker protection
and retirement security. These increases will better protect workers’
retirement savings; ensure worker safety and health; protect union member
rights; and increased civil monetary penalties.
The budget includes $132 million for the Employee Benefits Security
Administration (EBSA), an increase of $8.3 million, or a 6.7 % increase. To
complement this increase, the Administration will continue to press for
enactment of the President’s retirement security plan, which will give
workers better information on their retirement savings; increase access to
investment advice; and provide more freedom to diversify investments.
Occupational and Mine Safety and Health efforts will receive an
additional $10.8 million in 2005 to help build upon a solid record of
achievement in labor law enforcement. This includes $4.1 million for OSHA and
$6.7 million for MSHA
The department’s Office of Labor-Management Standards (OLMS) will
receive a $4.9 million increase to restore staffing to better protect union
members’ rights and financial interests, and incorporate electronic filing
to reduce unions’ administrative burdens. An additional $4.3 million is
requested for the Office of Inspector General, which will help prevent
organized crime influence in union matters, safeguard union members’
funds, and fight labor racketeering.
President’s Management Agenda
and Department-wide Management Initiatives
The Department of Labor continues to make significant progress in its
ongoing implementation of the President’s Management Agenda (PMA). This
agenda, launched in the summer of 2001, seeks to improve the management of the
federal government in five government-wide areas. They are: Strategic
Management of Human Capital; Competitive Sourcing; Improved Financial
Performance; Expanded Electronic Government; and Budget and Performance
Integration. In addition, the Department is also responsible for
implementing a sixth Agenda component: Faith-Based and Community
Initiatives.
Two PMA-related components of the FY 2005 budget are the
Department’s $33.6 million Information Technology and $10.1 million
Management Cross-cut initiatives. These DOL-wide accounts remain effective
budgeting tools by reducing duplicative agency requests while implementing
DOL-wide management strategies.
The balance of the Department’s 2005 budget is made up of
unemployment insurance, workers’ compensation, and other mandatory
programs. The department’s overall FY 2005 request is $57.3 billion.
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Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.
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