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OASP News Release: [07/15/2003]
Contact Name: Elissa
Pruett
Phone Number: (202) 693-4676
U.S. Assistant Secretary of Labor Chris Spear Serving as
Senior Advisor in Iraqi Transitional Government
WASHINGTON—Assistant Secretary of Labor for Policy Chris
Spear has been named by the President to serve as a senior advisor to
Iraq’s Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs as the country begins its
transition to democratic governance.
Already on the ground in Iraq, Spear has been focused on getting Iraqi
citizens who have been displaced from their jobs back to work. Utilizing his
knowledge of the American public workforce system, he is working with local
Iraqi officials to determine the programs and systems that would be most
valuable to the training and employment of Iraqi citizens.
The task of guiding Iraq into a future of democracy and prosperity is a
challenging one, and Spear’s position is a fluid one. He has been called
upon to assist with such diverse issues as the country’s prison system and
housing for disabled, elderly, and orphaned Iraqis.
“Chris Spear was among the highest ranked U.S. Government officials
in Iraq helping with the reconstruction efforts of Iraq. He’s done a great
job in the Iraq rebuilding effort and leaves behind a legacy of a new template
of improving social welfare conditions for the Iraqi people which others can
follow,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao. “Chris
volunteered for this mission, leaving behind for a number of months his young
family and wife to help ensure stability, order, freedom and democracy for the
Iraqi people. We are very proud of him!”
Spear was nominated as assistant secretary of labor for policy by the
President and then confirmed by the U.S. Senate on April 6, 2001. In his
position, Spear is responsible for providing advice and counsel to the
Secretary of Labor on the vast array of labor issues that affect the American
worker. He works with all agencies in the Labor Department to fulfill its
commitment to workers—that all workers will have the opportunity to find
and hold jobs under reasonable working conditions with good wages, health
benefits, reliable pensions, and the opportunity to improve their skills in the
21st century workplace.
Spear managed the Department of Labor transition team for
President-elect Bush and Vice President-elect Cheney prior to his current
appointment.
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