Labor Department News Releases Update

More than 9 million people are released from more than 3,000 county jails nationwide each year, many with few job skills and little prospect for employment. Without a strong support system or a steady job, many former inmates commit new crimes and end up back in jail — a cycle of incarceration that persists across the country. The U.S. Department of Labor is working to break that cycle with the announcement of a new $5 million funding opportunity that will provide employment services to inmate prior to release and steady support as they transition back to their communities.

On July 31, 2014, the Mine Safety and Health Administration published a proposed rule to amend its civil penalty regulation to simplify the criteria, which will promote consistency, objectivity and efficiency in the proposed assessment of civil penalties and facilitate the resolution of enforcement issues. The proposal would place a greater emphasis on the more serious safety and health conditions and provide improved safety and health for miners. MSHA also is proposing alternatives that would address the scope and applicability of its civil penalty regulation.

This NEG was originally approved in early 2014, with $850,680 initially released. Today's award increases the total funding to the full approved amount of $1,510,320. This incremental funding will provide for the continued provision of "wrap around" and supportive services to the impacted workers who are eligible for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA), as well as for the full array of employment-related services allowable under a NEG to the impacted workers who are not TAA-eligible, including career counseling, job search assistance, and supportive services, such as child care and transportation.