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Remarks Prepared for Delivery by
U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao
Pueblo of Laguna Tribe Grant
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Tuesday, August 17, 2004
Thank you, Senator Pete Domenici. You are doing a great job for the people
of New Mexico. They're lucky to have you.
Let me also thank Ron Solomon, director of the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center,
for hosting us here today.
Today, I am here to announce a grant of more than $3.2
million to the Pueblo of Laguna Tribe's One Stop for Native Youth. This grant
will help at-risk Native American youth and other young Native Americans
train for and find jobs.
President Bush and the Labor Department are committed to helping all youth,
especially at-risk youth, find jobs and build successful career paths. The
grant announced today will provide job training, GED assistance, employment
services, leadership development and life-skills training for more than 260
Native American youth of the Pueblo of Laguna tribe.
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 access the services needed
to get a good start on a productive career path.
And there are good opportunities in New Mexico. June's unemployment rate
in New Mexico was 5.5 percent.
Nationally, our economy has experienced 11 straight months of job growth,
producing 1.5 million new jobs since last August. The current
unemployment rate of 5.5 percent is lower than the national average in the
1970s, 1980s and 1990s.
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 Pueblo of Laguna Tribe bring hope and opportunity to its young
people.
Young people will be able to access these services at the One Stop for Native
Youth on the Pueblo of Laguna reservation. There are 20 other Comprehensive
One-Stop Career Centers in New Mexico.
This $3.2 million grant is in addition to the $82.5 million that New Mexico
receives annually from the Department of Labor for training and employment
services.
We want to thank Senator Domenici for his assistance.
Now, it's a great pleasure to present this check for more than $3.2 million
to Gil Sanchez and the Pueblo of Laguna One Stop for Native Youth Program.
Thank you. Now, I'll be happy to take a few questions.
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