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Remarks Prepared for Delivery by
U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao
Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate Youth Build
Sisseton Wahpeton Reservation, South
Dakota
Wednesday, August 4, 2004
Thank you, Chairman Crawford [James Crawford, Chairman, Sisseton Wahpeton
Oyate Tribe].
Thank you, Richard Keeble, for your help as well.
I'm pleased to be here in Sioux Falls to announce a grant
of over $3 million to the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate Youth Build. This grant
will help at-risk Native American youth and other young Native Americans
who've had trouble in their lives train for and find jobs.
This administration is committed to helping all youth, especially at-risk
youth, access the tools to successfully pursue job opportunities. The grant
announced today will help provide job training, GED preparatory training,
employment assistance, community service and leadership development for 400
Native American youth on South Dakota's Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate Reservation.
Research shows that Native American youth are 2 to 3 times more likely to
be at risk than others. This is why this grant is so important. It will help
Native American young people acquire the skills and services needed to get
a good start on a productive career path.
And there are good opportunities in South Dakota. June's unemployment rate
remained at 3.4 percent, which is well below the
national average and ranks South Dakota 4th in the country.
Nationally, our nation has experienced 10 straight months of job growth,
producing 1.5 million new jobs since last August. The unemployment
rate remains at 5.6 percent, which is lower than the national average in
the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s.
These job figures and other recent data show that America's economy is getting
stronger.
This Administration recognizes, however, that there are many on the reservations
who need help. Employment for Native Americans is not as strong we'd like
it to be. It is vital that Native American young people have access to training
and employment services to help them advance within the workforce. This grant
will help the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate Tribe bring hope and opportunity to
its young people.
This grant is in addition to the $121 million that South Dakota receives
annually from the Department of Labor for training and employment services.
Since 2002, The Department of Labor has given an additional $2 million in
National Emergency Grants.
Now, it's a pleasure to present this check for nearly $3.2 million to
Chairman Crawford and the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate Youth Build.
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