To answer questions related to the administration of the Alternative Trade Adjustments Assistance (ATAA) program that have arisen since the issuance of Training and Employment Guidance letter (TEGL) NO.2-03

(1)To inform states of the availability of Fiscal Year (FY) 2004 Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) reserve training funds and job search and relocation allowances for trade-certified individuals; and (2) to transmit forms and instructions for requesting TAA reserve training funds and job search and relocation allowances.

This guidance letter outlines: 1) the parameters States are to use in conducting State level customer satisfaction surveys, 2) the formula weights to be used in computing performance for the State American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) scores for participants and employers, and 3) the parameters States are to use in capturing customer satisfaction outcomes at the local level for local performance accountability purposes.

To inform states and local areas of ETA's new strategic vision to serve out-of-school and at-risk youth under the Workforce Investment Act (WIA).

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

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 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 inform the state workforce investment system of the opportunity to apply for Secretary`s discretionary National Emergency Grant(NEG) funds, pursuant to the Workforce Investment Act (WIA), Title I, Section 173, as amended, to provide employment-related assistance for members of the National Guard and Military Reserves who were required to interrupt or postpone employment-related assistance (including training funded by Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA)) in order to fulfill requirements involving deployment to Iraq, Afghanistan or other locations.

To provide revisions and clarifications to policy guidance previously issued to states and national program grantees concerning the Employment and Training Administration`s data validation policy, for the following programs: Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Title IB, Wagner-Peyser Act/Employment Service (ES), Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA), National Farmworker Jobs Program (NFJP), Indian and Native American (INA) Program and Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP).

To provide the Department's interpretation, under the Trade Act of 1974 and its implementing regulations, of the conditions under which distance training may be a type of training approvable as classroom training.