U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao

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As Prepared

Remarks at the Department of Labor/Department of Defense
Memorandum of Understanding Signing Ceremony
The Pentagon
Arlington, Virginia
July 11, 2003

Good morning and thank you for that warm welcome!

I am delighted to join Secretary Rumsfeld at this very special ceremony highlighting our commitment to America’s armed forces and their families. We’re so pleased that the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff are with us today, as well as the Labor Department’s Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training, Emily DeRocco.

We are so proud of our men and women in uniform—both active and reserve—who served in the extraordinary campaign to liberate the people of Iraq and protect us from terrorism. They fought in a manner that reflects the resolve, generosity and compassion of the American people.

Now it’s our turn to support them by providing separating service members, military spouses and veterans with the help they need to succeed in the 21^st century workforce. We are committed to connecting these men and women with employers eager to tap their dedication, talent and skills.

The Labor Department has programs to help military spouses transition more easily between job markets. And we have programs to give separating service members and veterans a head start as they build new careers and bright futures for themselves and their families.

Some of our initiatives include:

• Expanding the services available to veterans and military spouses through America’s Job Bank and through our nationwide network of more than 3,950 One-Stop Career Centers;
• Promoting our employment website for military spouses at www.milspouse.org, which provides information about employment and training opportunities for military spouses;
• Improving access to the transition assistance program, or TAP, for separating service members by offering a full-range of employment and training services both here and abroad. In fact, our staff is already on its way to four coordinating sites overseas.
• Developing Internet-based tools, including E-VETS, that are tailored to individual needs and which military professionals and their spouses can access—regardless of where they are stationed—to acquire credentials online for private sector careers;

And as part of our collaboration, we will give military recruiters greater access to the resources of the Job Corps and America’s Job Bank to help identify young men and women with the skills and desire to serve our country in the armed forces.

The Memorandum of Understanding we are signing today also establishes a Joint Working Group between the Department of Defense and the Department of Labor. Both Secretary Rumsfeld and I look forward to receiving a progress report from the Working Group identifying other areas of potential collaboration, barriers that need to be addressed and recommendations for improved outreach to military families.

We are here today to affirm the thanks of a grateful nation to our brave men and women in uniform and their families. You contribute to our country long after you leave military service through your patriotism, your dedication to serving others, and your can-do attitude. This MOU is a concrete expression of our thanks, our support and our pride in you.

God bless you and God bless America.

Thank you.

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