More than $1 Billion in Compensation and Medical Benefits Already Paid by Labor Department

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Department of Labor is moving swiftly to pay claims and benefits under a program established by the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act's (EEOICPA) new Part E passed by Congress last year. The department announced today that nearly 100 claims will be approved for payment and distributed within the next month.

WASHINGTON—The Department of Labor is committed to helping the energy workers and families who have sacrificed for America 's freedom.

Four years ago, Congress passed the Energy Employees Occupational Injury Compensation Program Act. This program called EEOICPA compensates workers for the illnesses many suffered from working in Federal nuclear facilities. The Department of Labor took the lead in helping these workers and their families quickly.

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Indianapolis, Indiana - The U.S. Department of Labor sued the former president of Segno Communications, Inc., Indianapolis, to obtain appointment of an independent fiduciary to terminate the defunct company’s 401(k) plan and distribute $618,463.36 in assets to the 51 remaining participants.

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Denver, Colorado - The U.S. Department of Labor has sued to obtain the court appointment of an independent fiduciary to manage the abandoned 401(k) plan of Denver-based Maximum Team Moving Services Inc. and distribute the assets to 15 participants.

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Washington, DC - Today final rules were issued under the 1996 law on health insurance portability that gives workers greater access to group health plan coverage. The rules were drafted by the U.S. Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services and Treasury.

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Boston, Massachusetts - A lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Labor against the plan sponsor and the trustee of the Northeast Display Inc. 401(k) Savings and Investment Plan of Worcester, Massachusetts, has resulted in the restoration of over $35,000 to the plan.

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Detroit, Michigan - The U.S. Department of Labor has sued the owner of Great Lakes Trucking Company, Inc., Perry, Michigan, to recover employee contributions that he failed to forward to the workers’ 401(k) plan.

New Website Detailed in Proposed Rulemaking Published Today

Rules Become Effective in 60 Days

WASHINGTON—The Labor Department published today in the Federal Register final regulations implementing changes to employment rules for youth. The new rules expand protections for youth working in restaurant cooking, roofing, and driving, among other changes.

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Washington, DC - The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) today released Field Assistance Bulletin (FAB) 2004-03 providing guidance to field investigators on the responsibilities of a directed trustee under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Washington, DC - The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) today announced a technical amendment extending the interim final rules under the Mental Health Parity Act (MHPA) to December 31, 2005.

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - The former president of defunct NLOCI Corporation in West Chester, Pennsylvania., was sued by the U.S. Department of Labor for failure to forward employee contributions to the company’s 401(k) plan. The department is seeking over $17,000 in missing employee contributions plus interest.

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Dallas, Texas - The U.S. Department of Labor has sued the trustees of Dallas-based C/A Communications, Inc. for failing to remit and forward employee contributions in a timely manner to the company’s 401(k) plan and for retaining the contributions with the general assets of the company.

Also Cites Progress Made Against This Terrible Form of Modern-Day Slavery

WASHINGTON—Speaking today at the Conference on Trafficking in Persons in North America, U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao outlined the international scope of human trafficking and the Department's efforts to combat it.

The evil of trafficking in human beings must be stopped, Chao said. The worldwide incidence of men, women and children being enslaved demands a vigorous and sustained international effort to rescue victims and protect future generations.

WASHINGTON—U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao announced today that the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) received, for the eighth year in a row, an unqualified, or clean, opinion on its FY 2004 audited financial statements.

We take extremely seriously our responsibilities as stewards of taxpayers' dollars, said Chao. The Department's financial management excellence is an achievement we are very proud of.

WASHINGTON — As the weather grows cooler, many greet the coming winter months with anticipation of family gatherings, good food and the exchange of gifts. For others, the winter can be particularly challenging, with higher heating costs, the need for warmer clothes and other financial pressures. For those in need of assistance, the GovBenefits.gov website provides a valuable service by identifying potential benefit options available to citizens.

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.

Detroit, Michigan - The U.S. Department of Labor has sued the former owner of defunct Aerial Ventures Management and Concepts of Detroit for failing to forward contributions of employees to the company’s 401(k) plan and commingling plan assets with those of the company.