Investing in America and Investing in Americans

As part of its continued efforts to expand opportunities for all, the Biden-Harris administration signed an “Investing in America and Investing in Americans” Executive Order to drive more federal dollars toward good-paying, safe jobs that offer the right to organize and provide critical benefits like childcare. President Biden made the announcement in Michigan at a United Association union hall, joined by Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su and Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg. While in Michigan, Acting Secretary Su also joined state representatives for a conversation on issues affecting the area’s Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander workers. 

• Learn more about the “Investing in America and Investing in Americans” Executive Order
• Learn more about our Good Jobs initiative

New reports from the Bureau of International Labor Affairs examine the child labor situation in 131 countries and territories, and more than 200 goods from 82 countries that are produced by child labor or forced labor. During an event at department headquarters, ILAB leaders shared highlights from the latest research and hosted a discussion on effective practices in corporate accountability with a panel of experts.

• Explore the reports
• View a recording of the event
• Watch a briefing on the reports at the Foreign Press Center
• Read a blog post with highlights from the data 
• Share our new video: Is your laptop made with child labor?

Acting Secretary Su and White House Domestic Policy Council Director Neera Tanden traveled to Milwaukee to discuss mental health parity and announce new rules that ensure 150 million people with private health coverage have greater access to mental health and substance use disorder care. The final rules issued by the departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Treasury clarify and strengthen protections to expand equitable access to mental health and substance use disorder benefits as compared to medical and surgical benefits while reducing barriers to service access.

The Good Jobs Summer tour is stretching into autumn, as Acting Secretary Su met with workers, community-based organizations and unions in Michigan. Acting Secretary Su joined Lansing Mayor Andy Schor to announce the city’s commitment to adopt and implement our Good Jobs Principles. Lansing is joining a cohort of cities receiving increased support to break down barriers for women to access good-quality jobs as a part of our Leveraging Infrastructure Networks for Equity Grant. This grant provides nearly $500,000 to Accelerator for America that will help cities, including Lansing, achieve this goal.

We've awarded $1.4 million in funding to support efforts by four community organizations to prevent and respond to gender-based violence and harassment against underserved and marginalized women workers.

In Texas last week, Acting Secretary Su spoke at Rep. Al Green’s annual labor meeting and met with local officials and workers to discuss the importance of unions and good jobs. She also delivered remarks at the Houston Re-Entry Convening on the importance of removing barriers for formerly incarcerated people to rejoin the workforce and participated in a roundtable with Rep. Sylvia Garcia and workers about the need for heat protections for workers.

We’ve awarded $90 million to help organizations in 44 states and Puerto Rico provide training and career services, related support services and work-based learning to help migrant and seasonal farmworkers develop critical skills.

The U.S. economy added 142,000 jobs in August, with the unemployment rate edging down to 4.2% according to the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

Our Century of Service Honor Roll of American Labor Organizations honors unions that have reached their 100th anniversary. Join us Sept. 17 in person or virtually as we recognize nine new inductees.

When it comes to artificial intelligence, we’re making sure everyone has a seat at the table and a voice in how it’s used – including unions and other stakeholders.

Here are five key takeaways from a recent meeting with the National League of Cities and participants in our Good Jobs, Great Cities initiative. 

Franklin Bennett’s work for an assisted living facility in Tennessee often required overtime. When he asked to be properly compensated, he was fired. Then we got involved. 

A National Guardsman shares how the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Relief Act of 1994 helped him get back to work after deployment.

The landmark Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act turns 65 this week. Learn how our Office of Labor-Management Standards is promoting worker and public confidence in labor unions.

New Bureau of Labor Statistics employment projections for 2023-2033 just dropped – check out the highlights in three charts.

Congratulations to Nancy Alcantara, Shannon Rebolledo, Justin Uphold and the Packers Sanitation Leads Team from our Wage and Hour Division for being recognized by the Partnership for Public Service as the 2024 Federal Employees of the Year. Their groundbreaking investigation revealed severe child labor violations, with 102 minors aged 13 to 17 working illegally at 13 meatpacking plants across eight states. Their efforts resulted in a historic fine and major reforms in child labor enforcement.

Free, confidential support is just a call away. Reach out, you are not alone. No judgment. Just help. 🎗️ #988Day 
-@OSHA

• Lansing State Journal: Federal-local partnerships can lead to better jobs, brighter future in Lansing
• CNN: White House announces rule that would cut insurance red tape over mental health and substance use disorder care 
• TribLIVE.com: OSHA to probe fatal Hempfield tractor accident