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Remarks Prepared for Delivery by
U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao
2004 Community Leadership Award
Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund
Washington, D.C.
Thursday, September 9, 2004
Thank you, Jim [Clifton, President and CEO of the Gallup Organization].
Thank you for awarding me this Community Leadership Award from the Thurgood
Marshall Scholarship Fund, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority.
The Thurgood Marshall Fund, Phi Beta Sigma and Zeta Phi Beta recognize that
education is critical to accessing opportunity. You know that 80 percent
of all new jobs require some kind of postsecondary education or training.
And that, historically, college graduates earn twice as much over their lifetimes
as workers who stopped with a high school diploma.
Today, our economy is rapidly changing and presenting us with new challenges
as well as opportunities. Old industries are evolving and new ones are emerging
every day. In this environment, it is crucial to continually update your
skills and knowledge base. That means developing a commitment to lifelong
learning.
Another important part of building a secure future is learning to save and
invest wisely. This Administration is focused on helping encourage workers
to develop the habit of savings and to participate in their employers' retirement
plans. By helping workers focus on tomorrow's challenges today, we are helping
them build lasting security for themselves and their families.
So thank you for everything you are doing to nurture the next generation
of African American leaders.
And thank you for everything you are doing to ensure that the promise of
equal opportunity remains a reality for every generation.
Thank you.
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