The Employment and Training Administration (ETA) is pleased to announce commencement of a SUTA study to examine state implementation of section 303(k) of the Social Security Act (SSA) in selected states. ETA has contracted with Coffey Communications, LLC (Coffey) of Bethesda, Maryland to conduct the study. The study will examine the status and effectiveness of state actions to meet the requirements of the law and operating guidance, and discuss whether the Secretary of Labor should recommend additional Congressional action to improve the effectiveness of section 303(k) of the SSA.

To announce the release and availability of Comparison of State Unemployment Insurance Laws 2006.

To remind the workforce investment system of the WIA performance reporting deadlines and timeline for submitting data validation results for the following programs: Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Title IB, the Wagner-Peyser Act, activities authorized under chapter 41 of title 38, United States Code (Local Veterans Employment Representative and Disabled Veteran Outreach Service programs), Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA), and National Farmworker Jobs (NFJP).

To announce the release and the availability of ETA Occasional Paper 2006-02: Building Relationships Between the Workforce Investment System and Faith-Based and Community Organizations: A Background Paper.

To announce the release and the availability of ETA Occasional Paper 2006-03: Evaluating Grants to Build Collaborations Between the Workforce Investment System and Faith- and Community-Based Organizations: Early Findings

To announce the results of the Program Year (PY) 2006 competition of the national Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) grants.

To inform states and local areas about a newly formed partnership to promote careers in Health Care to Hispanics.

To assure that all SCSEP national and state grantees focus efforts on helping minorities gain and continue access to the program, especially through the transition period ending October 1, 2006.

To announce the designation of September 24-30, 2006, as National Employ Older Workers Week and to encourage State Workforce Agencies, State and Local Workforce Investment Boards and One-Stop Career Centers to provide leadership in activities to promote National Employ Older Workers Week.

To announce extension of Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval of Forms ETA 843 and ETA 841 contained in ET Handbook No. 384, Unemployment Compensation for Ex-servicemembers (UCX) Handbook, Chapter VI, pages 8-21.