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Remarks Prepared For Delivery by
U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao
Secretary's New Freedom Initiative Awards Ceremony
U.S. Department of Labor
Washington, D.C.
Wednesday, November 17, 2004
Thank you, Roy [Grizzard, Assistant Secretary for Disability
Employment Policy].
Let me recognize some very special guests who are with us today:
Congressman Dennis Moore of Kansas; I. King Jordan, President of Gallaudet
University, and the Assistant Secretaries from the Department of Labor
who are with us. There are a number of Department of Labor Assistant Secretaries
who are also here with us today — their presence demonstrates the widespread
commitment that our entire Department has to helping people with disabilities
fulfill their dreams.
And finally, welcome, everyone, to the Department of Labor's
third annual New Freedom Initiative Awards Ceremony.
I also want to give a special thanks to the distinguished leaders
who traveled to Washington from all across the country to be with us today.
Just a look at the list of this year's awardees—which includes a project
at a children's hospital, Fortune 500 corporations and a professional football
player—tells the importance our society places on helping Americans with
disabilities reach their full potential. That's a real tribute to you, and
to the President's leadership in pioneering the New Freedom Initiative.
I established these awards two years ago to encourage and challenge
employers and community leaders to reach out to Americans with disabilities
and fulfill the worthy goals of the New Freedom Initiative. The
awards recognize organizations, for-profit and non-profit corporations and
one individual whose achievements and commitment truly exemplify President
George W. Bush's New Freedom Initiative.
As you know, this initiative is a priority for the President.
He introduced it on February 1, 2001, within two weeks after being sworn
in as the 43rd President of the United States. It is designed to ensure
that Americans with disabilities have full access to mainstream transportation,
home ownership, education and employment opportunities so they can realize
their full potential.
In making this initiative one of his first priorities, President
Bush was continuing the work of his father, President George Herbert Walker
Bush, who signed the historic Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990.
As I mentioned earlier, the recipients of the 2004 New
Freedom Initiative Awards are truly an impressive group. These organizations
have not only recognized the value that persons with disabilities bring
to the workplace. They have also incorporated that philosophy into their
daily operations.
Because of demographic and technological changes in our society,
there is a skills gap, or a shortage of workers with the right skills, in
some of the emerging sectors of our economy. This year's award winners are
to be applauded for understanding that challenge. They are taking steps to
fully utilize the talents and skills of Americans with disabilities to help
close the skills gap.
Some of today's award winners have launched training programs
tailored for Americans with disabilities. Others have sponsored aggressive
outreach and placement services for people with disabilities and have met
with great success. Still others have focused on assistive technology to
make the workplace more accessible.
All of this year's New Freedom Award winners are
outstanding in their own unique way and truly exemplify the spirit of the New
Freedom Initiative.
So let's all extend a hearty congratulations to all of the
award winners. You are not only helping your companies and organizations,
but you are strengthening our country by tapping this underutilized pool
of talent. And most important of all, you are helping Americans with disabilities
realize their dreams.
Thank you and God bless you for the tremendous work you are
doing.
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