WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 (UPI) -- The Labor Department's $12 billion request includes money for job-training programs to help the economy keep growing, department officials said Monday.
The blueprint allocates $125 million for a jointly run Workforce Innovation Fund with $100 million from the Department of Labor and a $25 million contribution from the U.S. Department of Education, the Labor Department said in a release.
It also includes $16.9 million to maintain efforts to help reduce a large backlog at the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission and requests a $5 million boost for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's enforcement effort, the department said.
In FY 2013, the department seeks $10 million to combat worker misclassification and other violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act and the Family and Medical Leave Act.
However, the budget discontinues the Women in Apprenticeship in Non-Traditional Occupations program and the Veterans Workforce Investment Program, the department said. The blueprint does augment other veteran-focused activities, expands Registered Apprenticeships and improves service delivery for employment training programs through the Workforce Innovation Fund.
"Our budget request focuses on programs that will help keep America's workforce strong and innovative, while providing needed worker protections," Labor Secretary Hilda Solis said. "It also makes responsible and reasonable cuts that are rooted in current economic realities and a continued focus on increased efficiency and effectiveness."
