WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that it has paid more than $400 million in compensation and medical benefits to Colorado residents under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA). The act was created to assist those individuals who became ill as a result of working in the atomic weapons industry. Survivors of such individuals may also be eligible for benefits.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today released $101 million to help states provide career training, job search and relocation assistance to U.S. workers who lose their jobs for trade-related reasons.

"A revitalized Trade Adjustment Assistance program is an important element of our nation's economic recovery," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis issued the following statement on the April 2009 Employment Situation report released today:

"This past April, our economy lost 539,000 jobs, bringing the total number of jobs lost since this recession began to 5.7 million. The overall unemployment rate has increased to 8.9 percent.

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending May 2, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 601,000, a decrease of 34,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 635,000. The 4-week moving average was 623,500, a decrease of 14,750 from the previous week's revised average of 638,250.

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 4.8 percent for the week ending April 25, an increase of 0.1 percentage point from the prior week's unrevised rate of 4.7 percent.

WASHINGTON — Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today, through a national online discussion with stakeholder groups, the general public and the news media, will outline the president's fiscal year (FY) 2010 budget for the U.S. Department of Labor, which begins to restore worker protection programs and revitalize employment opportunities for the American workforce.

Washington – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) will sponsor “Getting It Right – Know Your Fiduciary Responsibilities” webcasts on May 12 and 13. The webcasts are part of the agency’s national fiduciary education campaign to increase awareness and understanding of basic responsibilities associated with operating private sector retirement plans.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today certified for release $130,063,620 in unemployment insurance (UI) modernization incentive funds to the state of Minnesota. Minnesota qualified for the funds available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) by allowing workers to use their more recent earnings to qualify for benefits. Minnesota's approved application will be posted at the department's Employment and Training Administration Web site at http://www.dol.gov/recovery/.

Atlanta – William Traylor, former president of Homeland Entertainment Group Inc. in Nashville, Tennessee, will restore $20,092 to the company’s retirement plan as part of a federal consent order and judgment obtained by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA).

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $771,713 National Emergency Grant increment award to assist workers affected by automotive layoffs from Chrysler LLC in Fenton, Mo.; Integram St. Louis Seating in Pacific, Mo.; and Yushin USA in Kirksville, Mo. This funding represents the second and final installment of a $1,730,321 grant approved on April 23, 2008.

ATLANTA – The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division has fined Demon Demo Inc. a child labor civil money penalty following an investigation into the death of a teenage worker at the company's Gwinnett Place mall demolition site from a second floor fall.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor continued to demonstrate excellence in reporting on program and financial performance by earning a number one ranking in an annual competition of the 24 largest federal agencies. George Mason University's Mercatus Center announced the results of its 10th annual Performance Report Scorecard on May 5.

ARLINGTON, Va. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) has issued a closure order under Section 104(b) of the Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 (Mine Act) to Snapco Inc. of Buchanan County, Va., after the mine operator failed to pay $396,576.84 in delinquent penalties and then ignored a demand to correct the failure. The order closes production at the company's Mine Number 2; the penalties stem from at least 360 violations cited at that operation.

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending April 25, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 631,000, a decrease of 14,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 645,000. The 4-week moving average was 637,250, a decrease of 10,750 from the previous week's revised average of 648,000.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $2,047,844 grant to assist approximately 240 workers affected by the closure of Fleetwood Enterprises, Inc. manufacturing plants located in the rural communities of La Grande and Pendleton, Ore.

"This grant will allow affected workers in Oregon to access the services and training necessary to allow them to enter occupations in growing regional industries," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis.

Buffalo, New York – The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a consent judgment prohibiting a former trustee of the Franbilt Inc. 401(k) Plan from serving as a fiduciary to any employee benefit plan covered by the federal Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). Franbilt Inc., now defunct, was a steel fabrication plant located in Lockport, New York.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is initiating a comprehensive rulemaking on combustible dust.

OSHA will issue an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and convene related stakeholder meetings to evaluate possible regulatory methods, and request data and comments on issues related to combustible dust such as hazard recognition, assessment, communication, defining combustible dust and other concerns.

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced that the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will convene a Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act (SBREFA) panel May 5 on a draft proposed rule on occupational exposure to diacetyl and food flavorings containing diacetyl.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $3 million grant to create approximately 300 temporary cleanup and recovery jobs because of Florida's recent severe storms and flooding.

"Spring storms hit Florida hard, resulting in flooding throughout the panhandle region," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "Today's grant will create temporary jobs to help some area residents recover from the flooding's aftermath."

WASHINGTON – During a groundbreaking ceremony for a workers memorial monument held today at the National Labor College in Silver Spring, Md., Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis paid tribute to the men and women who have lost their lives on the job.

Official U.S. benefits Web site marks 7th anniversary by launching Twitter account

WASHINGTON — GovBenefits.gov, a collaborative effort of 17 federal agencies with content on more than 1,000 benefits and assistance programs, today is launching a Twitter account to provide continuous updates about the Web site's resources. In this time of economic uncertainty, it is more important than ever to meet citizen demand for information about available benefits.