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Remarks Prepared for Delivery by
U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao
National Urban League Grant Announcement
Detroit, Michigan
Friday, July 23, 2004
Thank you.
I know you've already heard from President George W. Bush. President Bush
is a compassionate, caring leader who cares deeply about the rich diversity
of our country and who has reached out to communities of color.
For the first time in our country's history, our people are seeing in action
at the highest levels of our government, an African American Secretary of
State, National Security Advisor and Secretary of Education. And for the
first time in 15 years, an African-American is Secretary of Housing and Urban
Development. Colin Powell, Condi Rice, Rod Paige and Alphonso Jackson are
doing a great job.
I am the first Asian Pacific American woman to serve in a President's Cabinet
in our nation's history. The President has appointed an unprecedented number
of people of color to his Administration.
The National Urban League is to be commended for what you are doing to build
strong families and strong communities all across this nation.
Nationally, we've seen 10 straight months of job growth, producing 1.5 million
new jobs since last August. But President George W. Bush and his Administration
are deeply concerned that employment among African Americans—especially young
people—is not as strong as we'd like it to be. That's why targeted programs
like the Urban League's Youth Preparation Program are so important. They
are designed to provide real solutions for real people
in the real world.
President Bush and his Administration recognize—as you do—that education
is one of the keys to success in the workplace. It is a fact of working life
that those who stay in school earn more over their careers than those who
don't. High school graduates earn one and a half times more over
their lifetimes than high school dropouts. And the unemployment rate for
high school dropouts is more than one and a half times higher
than high school graduates and three times higher
than college graduates. So helping youngsters stay in school and finish their
education is one of the most powerful things we can do to ensure equal access
to opportunity.
Today, I am pleased to announce a $9.2 million grant to the National Urban
League to help at-risk, out-of-school young people train for and find jobs.
This grant will ensure that at-risk African American youth get the tools
and mentoring they need to access job opportunities in the growth sectors
of our economy that pay good wages. These sectors
include: healthcare, construction, skilled trades, biotechnology, life sciences,
to name just a few.
This program will provide tutoring, work experience, adult mentoring, employment
opportunities and career-planning services for 1,200 young people through
the National Urban League's Youth Preparation Program. That's 1,200 young
lives that will be forever changed because of this grant.
This grant is one of several grants—totaling $54.6 million—the U. S. Department
of Labor is awarding to organizations nationwide to help at-risk young people
get back on the right track. In awarding these grants, President George W.
Bush and his Administration recognize that there is no one closer to the
heart and soul of our communities than faith-based and community organizations
like the National Urban League and its partners.
So, now, I am pleased to present this check for $9.2 million to Marc Morial.
With your help, we can continue to ensure that the promise of equal opportunity
is a reality for all Americans.
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