Background: The Employment and Training Administration (ETA) is continuing its widespread consultation process involving partners and stakeholders (as well as ETA staff). This process was initiated several years ago to solicit critical feedback on both ETAÆs goals and the early draft of the strategic plan required by the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA). GPRA requires that all agencies submit their first strategic plan in September 1997, and that agencies consider the views and suggestions of their stakeholders, customers and other interested parties. ETAÆs current goals and comments received from previous consultations were considered in the development of the proposed long-range (five year) strategic plan. As part of the GPRA requirements, ETA also is preparing the first of five annual performance plans that will provide a road map to measure incremental progress in achieving its long-range goals. The feedback gained through this consultation process should provide valuable information for the development of this annual plan. The attached memorandum includes information on how to submit feedback. Action Required: Please distribute the attached memorandum from the Acting Assistant Secretary and the proposed strategic plan to appropriate officials within the State and to all Service Delivery Areas and Substate Areas within the State and encourage comments. Please invite them to share the plan with staff and with customers. In addition, please continue to take every opportunity to work closely with your Regional Administrator in efforts to develop or refine strategies for meeting and exceeding these goals.

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Reference: See Attachment. Background: ETA is continuing its widespread consultation process involving partners and stakeholders (as well as ETA staff). This process was initiated several years ago to solicit critical feedback on both ETA's goals and the early draft of the strategic plan required by the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA). GPRA requires that all agencies submit their first strategic plan in September 1997, and that agencies consider the views and suggestions of their stakeholders, customers and other interested parties. ETA's current goals and comments received from previous consultations were considered in the development of the proposed long-range (five-year) strategic plan. As part of the GPRA requirements, ETA is also preparing the first of five annual performance plans to measure incremental progress in achieving its long-range goals. The feedback gained through this consultation process should provide valuable information for the development of this annual plan. The attached memorandum includes information on how to submit feedback. Actions Required: Please review the attached materials, share with interested parties, and provide comments no later than August 1.

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Reference: Title 20 CFR 653.500-3, 29 CFR Part 500, ESPL No. 4-95, FR Vol. 61 No. 96 (MSPA). Background: The National Office has designated NY as the pilot State for using AJB to transmit recruitment information for coded H-2A job opportunities throughout the United States. This project will not alter the legal requirements of the H-2A process, and is expected to provide information on job opportunities to more U.S. workers. As a result of using AJB in the H-2A recruitment process, electronic orders for jobs in NY will instantly be made available to all SESAs. SESAs and local entities with access to either AJB or the INTERNET will have information sufficient for referral to job opportunities resulting from H-2A orders. Unless otherwise indicated (or specifically requested) NY State staff will not routinely provide a hard copy of complete job orders to other States. This pilot project will help establish procedures for using electronic methods to comply with the regulatory recruitment requirements. If this pilot is successful for NY H-2A orders, similar procedures will be extended to all H-2A orders and to all interstate clearance orders. Action Required: State Administrators are requested to inform staff that: a. AJB will be the primary means of informing the ETA system of criteria (H-2A) job opportunities in NY State; b. The attached procedures should be adhered to in responding to NY State H-2A job orders; and c. Since only AJB will be used initially to notify the ES system of NY State H-2A openings, it is essential that local office staff in States which have traditionally received hard copies of the NY orders access AJB on a routine basis, especially during the traditional recruitment period for NY harvest orders (July 1-August 15).

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References. None. Background. After consultation with Grantee partners as well as union, management and other affected entities within the Department of Labor, it was determined that OSTP's name should be changed. The name was approved in order to more accurately reflect the mission of the office and to eliminate any unfortunate mis-impressions associated with the terminology "special targeted." Information. Effective immediately, the new office name is the Office of National Programs (ONP). Action. All correspondence and other communications, including telephone and fax contacts should be directed to this office using the new name. A press release prepared by the Department's Office of Public Affairs is attached. Inquiries. Direct any questions to your Federal Representative.

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Background: Workforce development is a major initiative of the Clinton Administration and the Congress. States, local communities, and Regional Offices have been working diligently to build a high- quality system for our customers that integrates services and programs, including UI. Investments in technology are also creating new and better ways of serving customers. The UI programÆs innovation enabling the remote filing of claims by telephone and/or computers is revolutionizing the way unemployed workers interact with the workforce development system to access unemployment benefits. This trend raises some major issues including: (1) how to maintain connections between UI and the other components of the workforce development system for reemployment services, and (2) how to manage the impact on the system infrastructure (e.g., physical, structural, fiscal)? Consultation Process: The Unemployment Insurance Service recognizes that the UI program is a key player in the emerging workforce development system. The attached paper, developed by a group of UIS National Office and Regional Office managers is an attempt to articulate the role of the UI program within the larger workforce development system-- emphasizing the traditional role of UI and an expanded role in the workforce development system. National Office and Regional Office ETA managers will throughout the summer conduct consultations with the workforce development system including States, local communities, employers and organized labor. All States will be consulted in order to receive and process their input so that a clear vision of UI and its role in the workforce development system can be developed, and to commence appropriate actions to implement this vision. Actions: State Workforce Development officials, especially in the UI and One-Stop areas are encouraged to share and review this paper with relevant partners, commissions, Boards and Councils and provide any comments no later than August 15, 1997. Comments should be addressed to the Regional Administrator, with a copy to Grace A. Kilbane at the U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Room S-4231, Washington D.C. 20210.

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