U.S. Labor Department Commits $40 Million For Hurricane Irma Relief

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor has initially committed up to $40 million in Disaster Dislocated Worker Grant funding to Florida, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands to assist in disaster response efforts after Hurricane Irma, U.S. D.O.L. announced Thursday.

These grants were first announced on Tuesday. The amount of total funding announced Thursday may increase as the needs and impacts on state and local partners are assessed following the hurricane.

The department says it will continue to work cooperatively with states and territories to assess needs as they develop and respond accordingly. U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta has directed the Department to assist the residents and businesses in affected areas. The Department has taken the steps set forth below.

“My thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by Hurricane Irma,” Mr. Acosta said.  “The Department of Labor is deploying resources to support cleanup and recovery efforts. As Americans, we are strong and will come together to help our friends and neighbors.”

Labor Department activities to assist states and territories include:

• The Employment and Training Administration (ETA) will provide Disaster Dislocated Worker Grants to assess workforce needs. The disbursement of funding will be determined as needs are assessed by state and local partners.
• ETA is assisting in administering Disaster Unemployment Assistance for Florida, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. This assistance may also become available to other states impacted by Hurricane Irma if additional disaster declarations are made.
• ETA and the Department’s Office of Disability Employment Policy will make funding available from Disability Employment Initiative grants to provide services, medical equipment, and other resources to individuals with disabilities who are affected by the hurricane.
• As it did in response to Hurricane Harvey, the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) is temporarily waiving certain requirements and deadlines related to retirement plans and group health plans, and is coordinating with other federal agencies that regulate employee benefit plans on relief for employers, other plan sponsors, and plan participants and beneficiaries affected by the hurricanes. For example, EBSA is working with the Internal Revenue Service to make it easier for workers to get loans and distributions from 401(k) and other retirement plans and to give employers more time to file the Form 5500 Annual Return/Report for their employee benefit plans.
• The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs is temporarily suspending select federal contractor requirements, allowing businesses involved in hurricane relief the ability to prioritize recovery efforts.
• The Mine Safety and Health Administration is preparing to send personnel and equipment to assist FEMA in recovery efforts.
• The Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS) is working with its grantees to identify flexibilities and additional funding needs for its programs, including the Departments of Labor for Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Florida (which administer the Jobs for Veterans State Grants programs); affected Homeless Veterans‘Reintegration Program grantees; and the affected military bases where the Transition Assistance Program’s Employment Workshops are provided. VETS’ staff stands ready to offer assistance to employers, members of the National Guard and Reserves, and members of the National Disaster Medical System and Urban Search and Rescue service who may be deployed in support of rescue and recovery operations.
• The Wage and Hour Division will be triaging all calls in the affected areas to continue to provide uninterrupted service to workers and employers.
• The Office of Labor-Management Standards (OLMS) plans to issue a special enforcement advisory that would temporarily ease reporting and other regulatory burdens on labor organizations, labor relations consultants, and employers affected by Hurricane Irma. Advisories will be sent by email to OLMS and Department stakeholders.
• The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is helping employers keep their workers safe during cleanup and recovery operations by providing a number of hurricane and flood resources.
• Most OSHA programmed enforcement actions will cease in the affected areas to avoid disrupting recovery operations. An OSHA Emergency Response Team will provide compliance assistance.
• OSHA is actively engaged with the National Response Team and the interagency response to the hurricane and flooding. It is working with the Federal Emergency Management Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Homeland Security, and other federal agencies to coordinate strategies for the recovery.
• Public Service Announcements emphasizing the need to work safely in English and Spanish will be broadcast in affected areas during recovery efforts.

As the severity and geographical extent of the damage becomes known, the Department will monitor activities and take additional actions as necessary.