General Administration Letters (GALs) have been eliminated as an advisory series. However, active GALs remain in the system. Attached are listings showing the status of these GALs as of October 1, 2005.

This memorandum outlines interim procedures for the management of mail related to applications in the permanent labor certification program and reflects the decision by the Division of Foreign Labor Certification (DFLC or Division) to postpone certain regulatory and procedural deadlines pertaining to applications affected by Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma. DFLC issued guidance for Hurricane Katrina on October 13, 2005. Stakeholders raised certain questions in response to that guidance. Therefore, this guidance replaces and supersedes all prior DFLC hurricane guidance. This guidance will be posted on DFLC’s website and published in the Federal Register.

To announce details of two RJM training sessions for state staff.

To announce the Employment and Training Administration's (ETA) plans to recognize state workforce agencies that perform best in administering their UI programs

To transmit the Experience Rating Index (ERI) for states for rate year 2004.

To announce the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) approval of the extension of Form ETA 581, Contribution Operations.

To provide summary performance data of the State Workforce Agencies’ (SWAs) Unemployment Insurance (UI) tax programs and announce the posting of detailed performance data on the Employment and Training Administration’s (ETA) Web site for the quarter ending (Q/E) December 31, 2004.

To provide policy guidance to states on the use of National Emergency Grant (NEG) funds to provide disaster-related assistance to individuals impacted by Hurricane Katrina, including the additional flexibility authorized by the passage of the Flexibility for Displaced Workers Act (P.L. 109-72). This guidance provides policy for host states for Hurricane Katrina evacuees as well as states with a Hurricane Katrina disaster declaration as a result of direct impact.

To provide grant allocation procedures to state workforce agencies (SWAs) responsible for the RES allotments announced in Training and Employment Guidance Letter (TEGL) No. 23-04.

To transmit the subject computation for State Workforce Agency usage in computing minimum weekly DUA amounts for all major disasters declared during the first quarter of fiscal year (FY) 2006.