WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis issued the following statement on today's release of 2011 unemployment data on veterans by the Bureau of Labor Statistics:

"This annual report underscores the importance and the urgency of President Obama's initiatives to increase employment among veterans.

Partnership will provide no-cost training and certifications to veterans in California, Florida, Texas, Virginia and Washington communities

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced 23 grants totaling $5,436,148 to provide homeless veterans with job training aimed at helping them succeed in civilian careers. The grants are being awarded by the department's Veterans' Employment and Training Service through the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program.

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced a competition for grants totaling more than $5 million through the U.S. Department of Labor's Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program to provide approximately 3,000 homeless veterans with job training and other services to help them succeed in civilian careers.

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced 122 grants totaling more than $28 million to provide approximately 17,000 veterans who are homeless or at risk of being homeless with job training to help them succeed in civilian careers.

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced 22 grants totaling more than $9 million to provide approximately 4,000 veterans with job training to help them succeed in civilian careers. The grants are being awarded under the U.S. Department of Labor's Veterans Workforce Investment Program to continue successful programs into second and third years.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Veterans' Employment and Training Service today announced the availability of $600,000 in "Stand Down" grants that will provide an estimated 10,000 homeless veterans with opportunities to reintegrate into society. The grants are being awarded under the department's Homeless Veterans' Reintegration Program.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Veterans' Employment and Training Service, known as VETS, has proposed a rule establishing a uniform national threshold performance level to be applied to state grantees that provide employment services to veterans.

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today took part in unveiling the Obama administration's action plan to strengthen and support military families. She joined the president and first lady, Dr. Jill Biden, other Cabinet members and administration officials, and representatives of veterans service organizations in the East Room of the White House to release the report Strengthening our Military Families: Meeting America's Commitment.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the availability of a new online toolkit to guide employers through the process for hiring veterans. The free toolkit is designed to assist and educate employers who have made the proactive decision to include veterans and wounded warriors in their recruitment and hiring initiatives.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced two grants totaling $849,890 to fund the Veterans Employment and Training Service National Technical Assistance Center. The grants are being awarded under the Labor Department s Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Veterans' Employment and Training Service today announced more than $5 million in grants to aid homeless female veterans and veterans with families. Twenty-six grants in 14 states and the District of Columbia will provide job training, counseling and placement services (including job readiness, and literacy and skills training) to expedite the reintegration of homeless female veterans and veterans with families into the labor force through the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Veterans' Employment and Training Service has awarded $4 million in Incarcerated Veterans Transition Program grants designed to aid veterans "at risk" of homelessness. The 16 grants will serve more than 1,400 formerly incarcerated veterans in 13 states.

WASHINGTON – At a White House forum of the U.S. Interagency Council of Homelessness today, Labor Secretary Hilda L. Solis announced 97 grants, totaling more than $24 million, to provide approximately 14,000 veterans with job training to help them succeed in civilian careers. The grants are being awarded under the U.S. Department of Labors Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program.

WASHINGTON – Raymond Jefferson, assistant secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor's Veterans' Employment and Training Service, today announced that 22 grants, totaling more than $9 million, are being awarded nationwide to provide thousands of veterans with green jobs training.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Veterans' Employment and Training Service today announced a $750,000 grant competition aimed at supporting Department of Labor grantees that provide employment services to homeless veterans and veterans at risk of becoming homeless.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Veterans' Employment and Training Service today announced a $4 million competition to fund at least 12 Incarcerated Veterans Transition Program grants designed to assist eligible veterans who are currently incarcerated and/or transitioning out of the justice system who are at risk of homelessness. VETS is collaborating with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to better assist our nation's incarcerated veterans and help prevent their recidivism.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Veterans' Employment and Training Service today announced a $5 million grant competition to provide job training, counseling and placement services (including job readiness, and literacy and skills training) to expedite the reintegration of homeless female veterans and veterans with families into the labor force.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labors Veterans Employment and Training Service has announced an $8.3 million grant competition to provide job training, counseling and placement services (including job readiness, and literacy and skills training) to expedite the reintegration of homeless veterans into the labor force through its Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Veterans' Employment and Training Service has announced a $2 million grant competition under the Veterans' Workforce Investment Program to assist eligible veterans by providing employment, training, support services, credentialing and networking information in renewable and sustainable energy.