U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

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Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Office of Public Affairs

OPA Press Release: Secretary Of Labor Elaine L. Chao

Addresses Mercer County Chamber Of Commerce

Makes First Visit To Mercer County As Labor Secretary

HARRODSBURG, Ky.— In her first visit to Harrodsburg as the U.S. Secretary of Labor, Elaine L. Chao outlined the president’s Back-to-Work plan and economic stimulus package during remarks at the 50^th Annual Mercer County Chamber of Commerce Banquet and Meeting. Chao also promoted the work of the Department of Labor and the many training and retraining programs it offers to help workers remain in today’s workforce.

“The attacks on our country of September 11th sent shock waves through our economy,” Chao said. “The October national unemployment numbers, or as I called them, the bin Laden numbers, show the need to stimulate the economy. The president has proposed a robust stimulus package, which includes a strong Back-to-Work relief plan for dislocated and unemployed workers. His plan proposes up to $10 billion in new funding which will extend unemployment insurance benefits for an additional 13 weeks beyond the current 26 weeks to workers in states that have been hardest hit by the September 11 attacks. In addition, he has asked for an additional $3 billion in National Emergency Grants.”

“The president has asked that the Senate act before Thanksgiving, the start of the holiday season,” Chao said. “The president’s Back-to-Work Relief program is a step toward reconnecting workers with the workforce. It deploys tried and true, practical measures to help America’s workers devastated by terrorist attacks get back on their feet.”

If passed by Congress, the president’s Back-to-Work package will help the economy recover by providing increased assistance to dislocated workers. The plan will extend unemployment benefits by 13 weeks in the hardest hit states. The National Emergency Grant funds will allow workers to pay their healthcare insurance payment so workers can maintain their health coverage during this period of economic uncertainty. The proposal will use the existing unemployment benefits system, rather than creating new programs, to provide the re-employment services necessary to stimulate economic growth. The department has also recently widened eligibility requirements for disaster unemployment assistance to help workers harmed by the attacks of September 11^th.

Chao joined Brent Drury, president of the Mercer County Chamber of Commerce, and 250 Kentucky business leaders at the Banquet.

For more information please go to www.dol.gov.

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Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.