Taylor, MI - Congressman John D. Dingell (D-MI15) made the following remarks after attending a roundtable discussion with the Southeast Michigan Community Alliance (SEMCA) and representatives from regional MichiganWorks! service centers.  The meeting was an opportunity for the Congressman to update those most closely involved with the No Worker Left Behind (NWLB) program on his efforts to ensure quick action regarding the currently exhausted NWLB funds in Wayne and Monroe counties.

“No Worker Left Behind is a victim of its own success.  This program to retrain our workers for new jobs in emerging sectors is crucial to putting Michigan back to work, and any delay in doing so is unacceptable,” Congressman Dingell said.  “To ensure NWLB receives adequate funding through the remainder of the fiscal year, I have already spoken with the U.S. Department of Labor to emphasize the importance of both the full and rapid funding of the program through the National Emergency Grant application already submitted by the State.  I also organized the entire Michigan Congressional Delegation in support of the grant application and together, the Michigan Delegation sent a letter of support to the Department of Labor.  Today’s discussion with SEMCA and the directors of the MichiganWorks! service centers in the region serves to underline not only the enormous success of No Worker Left Behind and those who administer it, but also the great importance of its speedy continuation.”

Greg Pitoniak, Chief Executive Officer of SEMCA, added the following: “It is good news that so many Michigan workers understand the importance of upgrading their skills and education to meet the needs of employers in the changing Michigan economy.  I am so proud of the dedicated efforts of our MichiganWorks! Service Centers’ staff to assist thousands of our customers with the funding of their training. We applaud Congressman Dingell on his long-standing efforts to retrain so many Michigan residents in the midst of this economic upheaval and thank him especially for his advocacy on the national level to secure the necessary National Emergency Grant money.  SEMCA is fully committed to working with Governor Granholm and the Congressman to ensure that further funding for NWLB is quickly allocated and that all customers are properly assisted as much as is possible until that time.”