Secretary Chao called on the nation’s public and private leaders to wake up to trends that are shaping our workforce at the Labor Department's Summit on the 21st Century Workforce. Business, labor, academic, government and non-profit leaders from across the country joined President George W. Bush and Secretary Chao at the Summit, held June 20, 2001 at the MCI Center in Washington, DC. View the President's speech . View the Secretary's speech.View the Agenda for a list of speakers and the day's events. View the Department of Labor's News Release on the Summit.

The Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act provides compensation and medical benefits to nuclear weapons industry employees who are seriously ill because they were exposed to radiation, beryllium or silica. Compensation will also be available to certain survivors and some uranium employees. For more information about the program, call, toll-free: 1-866-888-3322. A copy of the regulations: http://www.dol.gov/dol/esa/public/regs/compliance/owcp/eeoicp/law/Regs.htm is also available on-line.

Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao announced details of the president's budget request for the Labor Department that doubles the funding for a key disability office, exhibits spending restraint and still maintains the highest levels of funding for enforcement of worker protection laws in decades.

Secretary Chao Opens Office for 21st Century Workforce

Secretary Chao has launched her new Office of the 21st Century Workforce to bring focus and solutions to the challenges faced by America's workers. "To succeed in the 21st Century, our nation must be prepared to adapt to changes in our economy - in how we work, where we work, and how we balance our professional and family lives," Secretary Chao said. "The Department of Labor cannot and must not simply react to changes. We must anticipate them, thus helping all workers to have as fulfilling and financially rewarding careers as they aspire to have."

The late Joseph A. Beirne, founding president of the Communications Workers of America, was inducted into the Labor Hall of Fame at the U.S. Labor Department national headquarters in Washington, D.C., on April 26. Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao and Morton Bahr, current president of the union, spoke at the ceremony along with Monsignor George Higgins of Catholic University and Beirne family members.

DOL's FY 2000 Annual Report presents a comprehensive picture of the Department's accomplishments over the past year, including our program accomplishments, financial results, and the Department's consolidated financial statements. The Report merges DOL's GPRA Performance Report together with its Accountability Report.

The Department of Labor's 2000 Inventory of Commercial Activities.

Employment Laws Assistance for Workers and Small Businesses (elaws) is an interactive system designed to help employers and employees understand and comply with numerous employment laws enforced by DOL. Each elawsAdvisor gives advice and provides information on a specific law or regulation based on the user's particular situation.

DOL's Small Business Regulatory Compliance Assistance Page and the Small Business Compliance Assistance Information Inventory Page were designed to assist small businesses in complying with rules, regulations and laws enforced by the U.S. Department of Labor. The Small Business Procurement Power Page is designed to assist small businesses interested in procurement opportunities with the U.S. Department of Labor.

The Working Partners program helps employers develop drug-and alcohol-free workplaces through its Small Business Initiative, Substance Abuse Information Database and Drug-Free Workplace Advisor

Current and former military personnel can learn about the licenses and certifications they need to enter a wide variety of civilian employment fields. Visit the Web site Use Your Military Experience and Training (UMET), sponsored by the Veterans' Employment and Training Service.