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OPA News Release: [02/27/2007]
Contact Name: Matt Faraci
Phone Number: (202) 693-4676
Release
Number: 07-0321-NAT
U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao Honored with the League of United Latin American Citizens National Legislative Award
Lauds Partnerships with Hispanic American Community
WASHINGTON — U. S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao last night was presented with the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) National Legislative Award in recognition of her "outstanding leadership and continued commitment to the Hispanic community." In her acceptance speech, Secretary Chao highlighted partnerships forged between the federal government and the Hispanic American community to create opportunities for Hispanic Americans.
"Workforce training and worker safety are among the areas in which the Department of Labor and the Hispanic American community have successfully collaborated," said Secretary Chao. "Since 2001, there has been an 18 percent decline in the fatality rate among Hispanic workers and record amounts of back wages have been recovered for workers in low-wage industries which employ many Hispanics."
Noting that small and medium size businesses employ more than half of all private sector workers, and have created nearly two-thirds of all net new jobs over the past decade, Secretary Chao cited a $3.3 million grant from the Labor Department to the Denver-based National Business Information Clearinghouse (NBIC). The grant, which was announced by Secretary Chao yesterday, will help the NBIC, in partnership with Western Union, support the startup and growth of minority-owned small businesses in select regional economies across the country.
In her remarks, Secretary Chao cited the Labor Department's Hispanic Worker Training Initiative, which helps workers improve their English proficiency and gain the skills required in rapidly growing industries. Secretary Chao noted grants from the Labor Department to partner with faith-based and community organizations to help Hispanic American youth. The secretary also discussed the department's ongoing efforts in Gulf Coast recovery efforts.
"The department remains active in Gulf Coast recovery efforts, working with media, churches and community-based organizations such as LULAC, to help vulnerable workers," said Secretary Chao.
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