DOL News Brief

July 30, 2009

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What's Hot:

$26.5M in UI Re-employment Funds Announced

The U.S. Department of Labor today announced grants totaling $26.5 million to 25 states to implement or enhance the Re-employment and Eligibility Assessment Initiative for unemployment insurance recipients.

• Read the News Release

DOL Certifies 1,000 Auto Workers in Michigan for TAA

Almost 1,000 workers in auto-related industries in Michigan are eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance.

• Read the News Release

National News:

Disability.gov: New Name and Look

In conjunction with the 19th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the U.S. Department of Labor has re-named and re-launched DisabilityInfo.gov as Disability.gov. Available at http://www.disability.gov, the site offers comprehensive information about programs and services to better serve more than 50 million Americans with disabilities, their family members, veterans, employers, educators, caregivers and anyone interested in disability-related information.

• Read the News Release

EEOICPA Milestone on Eighth Anniversary

The Labor Department has paid more than $5 billion in compensation and medical benefits to more than 52,600 claimants nationwide under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA). This milestone coincides with the eighth anniversary of the Labor Department's administration of the EEOICPA, which provides compensation and medical benefits to employees who became ill as a result of working in the nuclear weapons industry.

• Read the News Release

Recovery Highlights: UI Modernization

Earlier this week, Maine became the 30th state to be certified by the Labor Department to receive unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds. Available under the ARRA, UI modernization funds provide assistance to recent entrants to the workforce, workers seeking part-time employment, those who must quit work for certain family reasons, laid-off workers with dependents, and people who are upgrading their skills to be eligible for benefits. Seven billion dollars is available to states that include certain eligibility provisions in their UI programs.

• Read the News Release
• Read all UI Modernization News Releases

Spotlight on States: Delaware

DOL recently approved approximately $3,803,246 in ARRA National Emergency Grant funding for Delaware. The money helps workers affected by statewide auto layoffs resulting from the closures of Chrysler in Newark and GM in Wilmington. According to Secretary Solis, "These funds will provide an array of employment services, including skills assessment, career counseling, case management and job search/placement assistance."

• Read the News Release
• Recovery Act Funding by State

International Scene: U.S. – China Dialogue

The first meeting of the U.S. — China Strategic and Economic Dialogue was held in Washington on July 27 and 28. Originally announced by Presidents Barack Obama and Hu Jintao in April, the summit’s goal was to promote mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries.

The two countries agreed to further bilateral cooperation, including undertaking a dialogue between the U.S. Department of Labor and China’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security. More...

Opportunities are Open: DOL is Hiring

At the Labor Department, we’re all about "Good Jobs for Everyone." Safe jobs. Secure jobs. And green jobs. Sound like the job for you? Opportunities are open. We’re hiring. Every week, in this newsletter, we’ll highlight some of the terrific positions we are looking to fill.

1. Multiple Positions in Massachusetts
   Unemployment Insurance Program Specialist — Grade 12
   DE-09-BOS-ETA-184-ARRA-A
   Close: 8/6/2009
2. Position in Philadelphia Metro Area
   Workforce Development Assistant — Grade 7
   DE-09-PHIL-ETA-091-AR
   Close: 8/5/2009
3. Position in Arlington, VA
   Regulatory Specialist — Grade 14
   DE-09-MSHA-287
   Close: 8/7/2009

Solis at NCLR: Time Is Now!

Secretary Solis addressed a crowd of more than 2,000 at the National Council of La Raza annual conference in Chicago. Under the theme "A New Era of Responsibility: Community, Unity, Purpose," the conference served as a meeting ground for the largest gathering of its kind in the Hispanic community. More than 20,000 leaders, corporate executives, advocates, volunteers and elected/appointed officials attended. Other speakers included Senior Advisor to the President Valerie Jarrett, HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan, and Education Secretary Arne Duncan.

• Read the Speech

Upcoming Events & Deadlines

OFCCP Compliance Assistance Seminars Next Week

• August 5 — Chicago, IL
• August 5 — Indianapolis, IN
• August 5 — Philadelphia, PA
• August 5 — Nashville, TN
• August 6 — Milwaukee, WI
• August 6 — Minneapolis, MN
• August 7 — Richmond, VA
• August 7 — Columbus, OH
• August 8 — Detroit, MI

EBSA Seminars

• August 12-13 — Birmingham, AL
• September 14-15 — Washington, DC

EEOMBD Ohio Town Hall Meetings

• August 11 — Fairfield, OH
• August 12 — Miamisburg, OH

Employer Compliance Assistance Forum

• August 31 — Greenville, SC

Grant Application Deadlines

• Green Capacity Building Grants
  (SGA/DFA PY 08-21)
  Close: 8/5/2009
• State Labor Market Information Improvement Grants
  (SGA/DFA PY 08-17)
  Close: 8/14/2009
• Energy Training Partnership Grants
  (SGA/DFA PY 08-18)
  Close: 9/4/2009
• Pathways Out of Poverty
  (SGA/DFA PY 08-19)
  Close: 9/29/2009
• Health Care Sector and Other High Growth and Emerging Industries
  (SGA/DFA PY 09-01)
  Close: 10/5/2009
• State Energy Sector Partnership (SESP) and Training Grants
  (SGA/DFA PY-08-20)
  Close: 10/20/2009

Going Green

green–collar

Pronunciation: \grēn-kä-lər\
Function: adjective Date: 1990
Definition: of, relating to, or involving actions for protecting the natural environment

Merriam-Webster Dictionary added “green-collar” to its 2009 list of new words. Many of the words in this year's 2009 class address concerns about the environment. “Green-collar” is especially relevant to DOL, which has allocated $500 million in competitive grants targeting underserved communities, at-risk youth, dislocated workers and our nation’s veterans for green jobs training.

• DOL has allocated $500 million in competitive grants
• Learn more

Corrections

In the July 23rd edition of this newsletter, the story about health care training funding stated that Secretary Solis made an announcement about the funding on June 21; the announcement was made on July 21.