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News Release
Top US Department of Labor officials to travel to Gulf Coast to meet with affected workers
WASHINGTON – At the direction of Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis, July 7 through 9, three U.S. Department of Labor agency heads will travel to Gulf states impacted by the BP Deepwater spill. The delegation will include Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment and Training Jane Oates, Wage and Hour Division Deputy Administrator Nancy J. Leppink and Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs Director Patricia A. Shiu. During their visit, the federal labor officials will meet with local fishermen, community-based organizations, and state and local appointed and elected officials in Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi.
Secretary Solis visited the Gulf region in early June and promised to leverage her department's resources to help communities impacted by the oil spill. For information on the Labor Department's recent efforts in the Gulf, visit http://www.dol.gov/dol/gulf.htm.
All the events listed below are OPEN PRESS. All times are CDT.
Wednesday, July 7
7:30 - 8 a.m. | Meeting with Deputy Mayor Greg St. Etienne Advisor to the Mayor for Economic Development Aimee Quirk Director of Job 1 Program Brian Moore and City Attorney Nanette Jolivette-Brown Loews Hotel 300 Poydras St., New Orleans, La. |
9 - 10 a.m. | Meeting with local parish presidents Jefferson Business and Career Solutions Center |
10 - 10:45 a.m. | Meeting with labor and health commissioners Jefferson Business and Career Solutions Center |
11 a.m. - noon | Meeting with fishermen from Asian-American/Pacific Islander and Hispanic communities Jefferson Business and Career Solutions Center |
1 - 2:30 p.m. | Meeting with area community-based organizations Jefferson Business and Career Solutions Center |
4 - 5 p.m. | Meeting with fishermen from African-American community Zion Traveler's Cooperative Center 120 Thomas Lane, Phoenix, La. |
Thursday, July 8
8:45 - 9:45 a.m. | Meeting with fishermen, shrimpers and crabbers from African-American, Asian-American/Pacific Islander and Hispanic communities Biloxi City's public dock 586 Bayview Ave., Biloxi, Miss. |
10 - 11 a.m. | Meeting with state appointed and elected officials Biloxi WIN Job Center 2306 Pass Road, Biloxi, Miss. |
11 - 11:45 a.m. | Meeting with local community-based organizations Biloxi WIN Job Center |
Noon - 12:45 p.m. | Oil Spill Resources and Claims Fair (with local nonprofits, businesses and community members affected by the oil spill) Mississippi Coast Coliseum, Conference Hall D 2305 Beach Blvd., Biloxi, Miss. |
2 - 3 p.m. | Meeting with state appointed and elected officials Coastal Response Center 7385 Hwy 188, Coden, Ala. |
3 - 4 p.m. | Meeting with fishermen from Asian-American/Pacific Islander and Hispanic communities Coastal Response Center |
4 - 5 p.m. | Meeting with local community based organizations Coastal Response Center |
Friday, July 9
10:30 - 11:15 a.m. | Meeting with state appointed and elected officials Workforce Escarosa Inc. 3670-A North L St., Pensacola, Fla. |
11:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. | Meeting with local community-based organizations Workforce Escarosa Inc. |
12:30 - 2 p.m. | Meeting with representatives from the hospitality industry Pensacola Bay Area Chamber 117W Garden St., Pensacola, Fla. |
In total, senior administration officials have visited the region 62 times since BP's oil rig exploded on April 20 – including trips by President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, National Incident Cmdr. Adm. Thad Allen, Labor Secretary Solis, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa P. Jackson, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, Energy Secretary Steven Chu, Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Administrator Jane Lubchenco and Small Business Administration Administrator Karen Mills.