To provide State Employment Security Agencies (SESAs) with information regarding timely deposits of Federal income taxes withheld from UI benefits.

To transmit estimated employer contribution rates for CY 2004.

To encourage participation at the Jouney to Performance Excellence 2001 conference to be held January 30 - February 2, 2001 at the Anaheim Hilton & Towers, Anaheim, California; and to encourage participation in the Teams Excellence Showcase.

To summarize the UI program`s GPRA performance for FY 2003 and announce the FY 2004 GPRA goals and targets

To encourage State Employment Security Agencies' (SESAs) to take full advantage of the "New Hires" system to prevent and detect overpayments attributable to unemployment insurance (UI) claimants who have returned to work but continue to draw benefits.

To respond to inquiries and provide clarification on the application of the unemployment insurance (UI) extended benefits (EB) work test for individuals identified as `eligible Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) recipients` for Health Coverage Tax Credit (HCTC) purposes.

To transmit the subject computation for State Employment Security Agency (SESA) usage in computing minimum weekly DUA amounts for all major disasters declared during the first quarter of Fiscal Year (FY) 2001.

To clarify adjustments made to the PY 2003 and PY 2004 WIA Annual Report and WIASRD reporting cycles in Training and Employment Guidance Letter (TEGL) 14-03, highlight existing submission procedures related to these reports, and align quarterly reports with the Annual Report timeframes.

To advise State Employment Security Agencies (SESAs) 1) of the revised LADT record format that accommodates the transfer of data coded in accordance with the revised Ethnic and Race Reporting Requirements; and 2) that LADT data reporting includes the use of the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) and Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) codes.

The Employment and Training Administration (ETA) is pleased to announce commencement of a major 5-year Study of the UI Benefits Program. ETA has contracted with IMPAQ International, LLC of Columbia, MD to conduct the comprehensive study.