Contact: Ernie Blazar 202.224.7627 Rich Chrismer 202.224.4812
Friday, February 21, 2003

WASHINGTON, DC –– U.S. Senators Kit Bond and Jim Talent today announced that the Department of Labor (DOL) has approved $1.7 million in National Emergency funds for Missouri airline workers who have been laid off.

"These dollars are a long time in coming for former Vanguard workers in Kansas City," said Bond. "I am pleased that the hard working folks in Kansas City are going to get some much needed relief. This is a good start at helping the former airline workers find new jobs."

Talent said, “I appreciate the Administration's commitment to the Kansas City workforce. These emergency grants will assist workers in acquiring new jobs. I’m pleased with the swiftness of the Administration in addressing this issue.”

The DOL will immediately release $350,000 in emergency assistance approved for workers laid off from Vanguard Airlines in Kansas City. In addition to the initial dollars released, funding up to a total of $1,732,109 will be provided for the airline's employees.

The funds will provide 350 of the dislocated workers, including pilots, flight attendants, maintenance mechanics, aircraft and traffic personnel and reservations and administration personnel, with assistance to find new jobs. Services will include orientation, career counseling, job search and placement, job search workshops, training and retraining.

The award, sent to the Missouri Division of Workforce Development, is part of the Workforce Investment Act’s Title 1.

Kit Bond is Missouri’s senior Senator and is now in his third term after having served the state previously during two terms as Governor.