In a letter to Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao, U.S. Senators Olympia J. Snowe and Susan Collins today urged the Department of Labor to quickly review and approve a request for $894,918 in National Emergency Grant funding for the 300 workers who lost their jobs at Domtar Industries in Baileyville and Fraser Papers of Madawaska.
“We have worked with federal and state officials, along with representatives from Domtar and Fraser Mills to ensure that these displaced workers get the assistance they need,” said Senators Snowe and Collins. “The National Emergency Grant funding will provide critical resources for these workers and their families and we hope this request will quickly be approved.”
The NEG funding will be used to support reemployment efforts, including recruitment, outreach, assessment, job skills transferability analysis, case management, business outreach and job development and placement.
Included is text of the letter:
The Honorable Elaine L. Chao, Secretary
U.S. Department of Labor
200 Constitution Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20210
Dear Secretary Chao:
We write to you on behalf of the 300 workers who recently lost their jobs when both Domtar Industries of Baileyville, Maine, and Fraser Papers of Madawaska, Maine, announced major layoffs. We want to express our appreciation for your rapid response in certifying the workers at both companies as eligible for trade adjustment assistance recently.
We have been informed by the Maine Department of Labor that a proposal for a National Emergency Grant (NEG) has been electronically filed in your office to aid in the cost of providing unemployment services to the affected Domtar and Fraser workers. The request is for $894,918 to provide support services to the unemployed workers and will support general administration and project monitoring, staffing and operating expenses to meet the additional demand on the system. NEG funding will be critical to support reemployment efforts, including recruitment, outreach, assessment, job skills transferability analysis, case management, business outreach and job development and placement. Due to this layoff announcement, we urge you to promptly review this NEG proposal and arrive at a favorable decision as soon as possible, allowing the Maine Department of Labor to continue to assist these workers with unemployment services.
Again, thank you for your timely response to the Trade petition for the workers at Domtar Industries of Baileyville, Maine, and Fraser Papers of Madawaska, Maine. We look forward to learning of the results of your review of this NEG proposal.
Sincerely,
OLYMPIA J. SNOWE SUSAN M. COLLINS
United States Senator United States Senator
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