WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the availability of up to $90 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding to create on-the-job training experiences. The money will be awarded to states that will work with state and local workforce investment boards, community-based organizations and employers in helping displaced workers acquire job skills and experiences that will improve their chances of securing permanent employment.

Arlington, VA – The Mine Safety and Health Administration has announced the publication of a final rule in the Federal Register revising requirements that MSHA and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health use to approve sampling devices for monitoring miner exposure to respirable coal mine dust. The final rule updates approval requirements for the existing "coal mine dust personal sampler unit" to reflect improvements in this sampler over the past 15 years.

Arlington, VA – The Mine Safety and Health Administration has announced the publication of a final rule in the Federal Register revising the agency's electrical design requirements for the approval of high-voltage continuous mining machines. The rule also establishes additional safety standards to address the machines' installation, use and maintenance in underground coal mines. MSHA's existing standards do not address high-voltage continuous mining machines.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis issued the following statement on the death of 29 miners at Upper Big Branch South Mine:

"I offer my sincere and heartfelt condolences to the families. We now know that 29 miners perished at the Upper Big Branch Mine. May they all rest in peace.

Sec rep to cover activities in California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah and Hawaii

WASHINGTON Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced the appointment of Alicia Villarreal as her regional representative in California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah and Hawaii. Villarreal will be based in Los Angeles, Calif.

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending April 3, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 460,000, an increase of 18,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 442,000. The 4-week moving average was 450,250, an increase of 2,250 from the previous week's revised average of 448,000.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 3.5 percent for the week ending March 27, a decrease of 0.1 percentage point from the prior week's unrevised rate of 3.6 percent.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the availability of approximately $20 million for two grants to provide employment services to young adult offenders and high school dropouts ages 18 to 24 in high-poverty, high-crime communities.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that approximately 4,000 workers from companies in 10 states – California, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wisconsin – are eligible to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance.

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced the appointment of Mark McDermott as her representative in Region 10 of the U.S. Department of Labor. The region includes the states of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota and Alaska. McDermott will be based in Seattle, Wash.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $964,762 grant to assist around 210 workers affected by layoffs at the International Paper Co. in Albany, Ore.

"This grant will provide Oregonians with retraining and re-employment services that will help them secure the good jobs that they need and deserve," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "Helping these workers is not just an important part of Oregon's economic recovery; it is the right thing both for the local community and our nation as a whole."

NEWARK, N.J. – A whistleblower investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration found that New Jersey Transit violated the Federal Railroad Safety Act when it retaliated against an employee for reporting a work-related illness.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Department of Labor today announced a competition for approximately $13.2 million in grant funds under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to create and implement a virtual service-delivery platform and promote career exploration in the healthcare sector.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor has announced a $5,594,913 National Emergency Grant increment to the state of New York to continue to provide services to about 5,500 workers affected by layoffs in New York's financial industry.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today outlined a series of steps to make its operations more transparent while expanding opportunities for public participation and collaboration.

"This plan is not just a response to the president's call for an unprecedented level of openness in government. The actions and initiatives we have announced today are also a substantive recognition of the changing needs and expectations of the working people," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration has appointed a team to investigate the April 5 explosion at the Upper Big Branch South Mine (Performance Coal Co.) in Whitesville, W.Va.

"Twenty-five hardworking men died unnecessarily in a mine Monday," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "The very best way we can honor them is to do our job. MSHA's investigation team is committed to finding out what happened, and we will take action."

San Francisco – The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained default judgments appointing Saakvitne Law Corp. as an independent fiduciary for the 401(k) plans of a Sunnyvale, California-based software company and its San Mateo, California-based subsidiary. As fiduciary, Saakvitne will terminate both plans and distribute a total of nearly $556,500 in assets to eligible participants.

San Francisco – The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a default judgment restoring more than $46,000, including interest, to participants of a 401(k) profit-sharing plan of now-defunct Power & Data Technology of San Jose, California. The judgment resolves a lawsuit against the company and its former president, Michael D. Williams of Gilroy, California, over losses that resulted from mismanagement and misuse of plan assets.

Fort Lauderdale, Florida – The U.S. Department of Labor has sued former Fort Lauderdale construction company First State Development and its chief executive officer to restore losses owed to the company’s 401(k) plan.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis issued the following statement on the death of 25 miners yesterday at the Upper Big Branch South Mine in Whitesville, W.Va.:

"As we hear of more heartbreak from Whitesville, our thoughts and prayers are with the families, friends, loved ones, neighbors and coworkers. Twenty-five hardworking men died needlessly in a mine yesterday. I pledge that their deaths will not be in vain.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis issued the following statement on the situation at the Upper Big Branch South Mine in Whitesville, W.Va.:

"My heartfelt condolences go out to the families, co-workers and communities that are mourning the loss of lives at the Upper Big Branch South Mine in Whitesville, W.Va. My thoughts and prayers are with them.