OSEC Congressional Testimony - Acting Secretary of Labor Seth D. Harris

Statement of Seth D. Harris,
Acting Secretary
U.S. Department of Labor,
Before the Subcommittee on Labor, Health
and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies,
United States House of Representatives,
April 16, 2013

 

Chairman Kingston, Ranking Member DeLauro and members of the Subcommittee, thank you for the invitation to testify today. I appreciate the opportunity to appear before you to discuss the Fiscal Year (FY) 2014 budget request for the Department of Labor.

The President's FY 2014 budget proposal invests in the things we need to grow our economy, create jobs and strengthen the middle class while further reducing the deficit in a balanced way.

The Labor Department budget request ensures ladders of opportunity for Americans striving to enter and stay in the middle class. For those willing to work hard and play by the rules, it provides support to develop the skills they need to find good jobs with income security in fair, safe workplaces. It is possible — and, in fact, imperative — that we make these investments at the same time that we allocate resources responsibly and make tough choices to live within our means.
 
The economic situation has improved substantially, but we have a great deal more to do if our economy is to reach its full potential, particularly in relation to jobs. While the worst may be behind us, we are not out of the woods yet. The federal government, and the Labor Department in particular, has a critical role to play in catalyzing further growth and job creation by equipping workers and job seekers with the skills they need to succeed in a 21st century economy. The budget request protects key priorities, enhances our capacity in key areas, and streamlines existing programs while recognizing that we must govern more efficiently.

As outlined in the testimony, this budget invests in the future by working to make good jobs available for all American workers in a fiscally responsible manner through:

• Turning our Unemployment System into a Reemployment System,
• Building the Skills of American Workers
• Helping Veterans Find Civilian Jobs to, and
• Protecting American Workers and Their Benefits

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Source: DOL

This information is intended to be educational and should not be considered legal advice on any specific matter.