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Home > United States Department of Labor

 
Dept. of Labor
Established: March 4, 1913
Activated: March 5, 1913
Secretary: Elaine L. Chao
Deputy Secretary: Steven J. Law
Budget:$59.7 billion (2004)
Employees:17,347 (2004)

The United States Department of Labor is a Cabinet department of the United States government responsible for occupational safety, wage and hour standards, unemployment insurance benefits, re-employment services, and some economic statistics. Many U.S. states also have such departments. The department is headed by the United States Secretary of Labor.

1 History

President William Howard Taft signed The Organic Act of the Department of Labor establishing the Department of Labor on March 4, 1913, his last day in office. He was reluctant to create the new department because he felt that the existing Cabinet departments needed reorganization before any new departments were created. However, realizing that his successor, Woodrow Wilson would likely create the department anyway, Taft signed the bill. In a memorandum written before signing the bill, Taft said, "I sign this bill with considerable hesitation, not because I dissent from the purpose of Congress to create a Department of Labor, but because I think that nine departments are enough for the proper administration of the government... I forebear, however, to veto this bill, because my motive in doing so would be misunderstood."

In the words of the organic act, the Department's purpose is "to foster, promote and develop the welfare of working people, to improve their working conditions, and to enhance their opportunities for profitable employment."

Congress first established a Bureau of Labor in 1884 under the Department of the Interior. Later, the Bureau of Labor became an independent Department of Labor but lacked executive rank. It became a bureau again within the Department of Commerce and Labor, which was established February 14February 14 is the 45th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. There are 320 days remaining, 321 in leap years. Events 1014 Pope Benedict VIII recognizes Henry of Bavaria as King of Germany. 1076 Pope Gregory VII excommunicates Henry IV, Holy Roman Em, 19031903 has the latest occurring solstices and equinoxes for 400 years, because the Gregorian calendar hasn't had a leap year for seven years or a century leap year since 1600. Events January 1 Edward VII of the United Kingdom is proclaimed Emperor of India.

When President Taft signed the organic act, the United States Department of Commerce and Labor became the Department of CommerceThe United States Department of Commerce is a Cabinet department of the United States government concerned with promoting economic growth. It was originally created as the United States Department of Commerce and Labor on February 14, 1903. It was subsequ and its respective labor bureaus and agencies were transferred to the newly established Department of Labor.

In 1967, President Lyndon Johnson asked Congress to consider the idea of reuniting Commerce and Labor. He argued that the two departments had similar goals and that they would have more efficient channels of communication in a single department. However, Congress never acted on it.



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Topics: United States Department Of Labor, History, Operating Units...

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