WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration requests information and comment on occupational exposure to infectious agents in settings where health care is provided, including hospitals, outpatient clinics, school clinics and correctional facilities, and settings such as laboratories that handle potentially infectious biological materials, medical examiner offices and mortuaries.

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement regarding Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month:

"As your secretary of labor, it is an honor to commemorate and celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

"Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have faced challenges and struggles here in the United States. Many of them encountered racial, social and religious discrimination. These brave men and women stood up for what they believed to be right, and our country is better for it.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $459,844 grant to assist about 80 workers affected by layoffs at Cleanpak International Inc. in Clackamas, Ore.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today certified for release $126,750,124 in unemployment insurance modernization incentive funds to the state of Maryland. Maryland qualified for its full share of the funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act by adding new provisions to its UI law that assist recent entrants to the workforce, part-time workers and individuals who are upgrading their skills.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $5,527,108 grant to continue to assist about 1,789 dislocated workers currently receiving intensive services and training from the state of Minnesota, as well as to serve those on waiting lists due to statewide funding shortages.

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending May 1, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 444,000, a decrease of 7,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 451,000. The 4-week moving average was 458,500, a decrease of 4,750 from the previous week's revised average of 463,250.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 3.6 percent for the week ending April 24, unchanged from the prior week's unrevised rate of 3.6 percent.

ARLINGTON, Va. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration today announced that six underground coal mines in Kentucky received numerous citations and closure orders by federal inspectors as a result of the nationwide impact inspections that took place last month. Each of these operations was forced to suspend production until the violations were corrected.

ARLINGTON, Va. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration today announced it plans to hold two public hearings, two public forums and a public comment period as part of its overall federal investigation into the April 5 explosion at the Upper Big Branch Mine in Raleigh County, W.Va.

Washington — The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) today announced guidance to help investors and plan participants better understand the operations and risks of target date fund investments.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration will hold two meetings to gather information from stakeholders to help modify its current injury and illness recordkeeping regulation and develop a modernized recordkeeping system.

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 today announced a $2,635,901 grant to assist about 613 workers affected by layoffs at Northwest Airlines in Eagan, Minn.

"Workers deserve an opportunity to pursue training and employment services after losing a job through no fault of their own," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "This grant will help Minnesotans impacted by airline industry layoffs to find good jobs in emerging industries, and it will bolster both the state and national economy."

WASHINGTON — Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis chaired the first meeting in 10 years of the President's Committee on the International Labor Organization, which is responsible for formulating and coordinating United States policy toward the ILO, on May 4. This meeting is the committee's first since May 2000.

WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement regarding the Human Rights Watch report "Fields of Peril: Child Labor in U.S. Agriculture" on child labor in agriculture:

Anchorage, Alaska – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) will sponsor “Getting It Right – Know Your Fiduciary Responsibilities,” a free compliance assistance seminar in Anchorage on May 19 at the Hilton Anchorage, 500 W. 3rd Avenue.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration will use comments from a series of stakeholder meetings to help develop a proposed rule for Injury and Illness Prevention Programs.

WASHINGTON – Dr. David Michaels, assistant secretary for the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration, today issued the following statement announcing the opening of an OSHA office in Las Vegas, Nev.:

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced $7.4 million in additional funding to nine high schools that have been deemed persistently dangerous by state educational agencies.

"Every good job begins with a good education, and all students deserve to pursue that education in a safe environment," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "These grants will promote the type of learning environment that will help get students on the track to personal and professional success.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration today announced the release of an updated version of the Advanced Manufacturing Competency Model.

ARLINGTON, Va. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration today announced the formation of a supplemental investigation group to augment the efforts of the agency's accident investigation team to determine the cause of the explosion that occurred April 5 at the Upper Big Branch Mine in Raleigh County, W.Va.