WASHINGTON— U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao officially kicked off the 6th annual Disability Mentoring Day by delivering the keynote address at the department's ceremony today.

Disability Mentoring Day is an opportunity for young people with disabilities to gain firsthand exposure to the many career options available to them, Secretary Chao said. It increases awareness among employers and the public that people with disabilities are a highly talented and largely untapped resource.

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Washington, DC - The three working groups of the Advisory Council on Employee Welfare and Pension Benefit Plans will convene via teleconference October 27-29, 2004, at the U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC to conduct final discussions on the report and recommendations to be submitted to the Secretary of Labor.

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Detroit, Michigan - The U.S. Department of Labor has sued the owner of defunct American Tool & Mold Inc. of St. Joseph, Michigan, to recover employee contributions that he failed to forward to the company’s health plan.

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Chicago, Illinois - The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) today announced an extension of the deadline for filing Form 5500 and Form 5500 EZ annual report/returns due to damages from severe storms and flooding in Minnesota.

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Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) today announced an extension of the deadline for filing Form 5500 and Form 5500 EZ annual report/returns due to storm damages from tropical depression Ivan in New Jersey.

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New York, New York - The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) today announced an extension of the deadline for filing Form 5500 and Form 5500 EZ annual report/returns due to storm damages from tropical depression Ivan in New York.

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Atlanta, Georgia - The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) today announced an extension of the deadline for filing Form 5500 and Form 5500 EZ annual report/returns due to damages from tropical storm Frances in South Carolina.

WASHINGTON — As baseball excitement soars with the start of the playoffs, the San Francisco Giants' unsecured playoff spot has halted Barry Bonds' home run battle for another season, but his record stands among the few truly elite who have reached 700 home runs—Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth and GovBenefits.gov. GovBenefits.gov hasn't been around as long as those legendary sluggers, but this website's 712 federal and state benefit programs are a home run for all citizens.

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Kansas City, Kansas - The U.S. Department of Labor has sued the owners of defunct Gazlay Marketing Group, Inc. of Kansas City, Kansas, for failure to forward $23,205.96 in employee contributions and loan repayments to the company’s 401(k) plan.

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Seattle, Washington - The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) compliance assistance seminar, “Getting It Right – Know Your Fiduciary Responsibilities,” will take place in Seattle, Washington on November 9, 2004 at the Bell Harbor International Conference Center, 2211 Alaskan Way, Pier 66.

WASHINGTON— U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao today hailed the 2nd anniversary of DisabilityInfo.gov—a comprehensive web site with one-stop access to governmental disability informationas an example of President George W. Bush's deep commitment to making government easily accessible to all Americans.

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Birmingham, Alabama - The U.S. Department of Labor has sued the trustee of the 401(k) plan of defunct Southeast Microserv Inc. in Birmingham, Alabama, for failure to forward $9,799.87 in employee contributions and to timely forward contributions deducted from employees’ paychecks to the plan.

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Washington, DC - The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) today announced an extension of the deadline for filing Form 5500 and Form 5500 EZ annual report/returns due to storm damages from Hurricane Jeanne in Florida.

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Newark, New Jersey - The U.S. Department of Labor has sued the trustees and service providers to the H.E.R.E. Local 4-69 Health Fund in Secaucus, New Jersey, for misusing plan assets to pay excessive and unreasonable compensation for services provided to the health fund, resulting in losses to the fund in excess of $2 million.

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Washington, DC - The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) today announced an extension of the deadline for filing Form 5500 and Form 5500 EZ annual report/returns due to damages from Hurricane Jeanne in Puerto Rico.

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Cincinnati, Ohio - The U.S. Department of Labor has sued to obtain the court appointment of an independent fiduciary to manage the abandoned the 401(k) plan of the Forest City Auto Parts Company in Solon, Ohio, distribute $3,050,520 in assets to 702 participants and terminate the plan.

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Grants Fund Education Programs in Africa and Latin America To Help Child Labor Victims

WASHINGTON—U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao today announced the award of $23 million in grants to World Vision and Catholic Relief Services for education programs in Africa and Latin America. The Labor Department awarded these grants under its Child Labor Education Initiative through a competitive bidding process.

WASHINGTON— U.S. Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao today awarded a $1.5 million technical assistance grant to the Corporation for Supportive Housing as part of a Bush Administration initiative to end chronic homelessness among persons with disabilities.