TELL THE SECRETARY OF LABOR TO RESTORE FUNDING TO THE WOMEN'S BUREAU!

Program Participants and Graduates:

Have you changed your life for the better by participating in a Women Work! member program? Send a letter to Secretary Chao urging her to restore the Women's Bureau's funding to FY2006 levels to ensure that the Women's Bureau can continue to support the Women Work! network and other critical initiatives to advance women in the workplace.

Send your letters to:

The Honorable Elaine Chao, Secretary
U.S. Department of Labor
200 Constitution Ave. NW
Washington, D.C. 20210

Once you've mailed your letter to the Secretary, email a copy to Women Work!

Click here to download the template in Word format.

[YOUR NAME]

[YOUR ADDRESS]

[YOUR PHONE]

[DATE]

The Honorable Elaine Chao, Secretary
U.S. Department of Labor
200 Constitution Ave. NW
Washington, D.C. 20210

Dear Secretary Chao:

There are nearly 70 million working women in the United States, over 60 percent of whom have families that rely on their income to survive. I am one of these women.

As a [graduate from/participant in] the [your program name] in [City, State], I am writing to urge you to restore the Women's Bureau's budget for FY 2007, so that the Bureau can continue to operate the Women Work! grant program and other critical initiatives for women in and entering the workforce.

The technical assistance, training and support that Women Work! provides [your program name] has positively impacted me in many ways. [If applicable, include the specific form of support Women Work! provided your program. Examples could include: increasing my financial literacy though the “Making Money Work!” curriculum, or learning how to write my resume and then find a job in my field at the Women Work! Career Center].

Because of the resources and support Women Work! and [your program name] provide, I was able to [Explain your experience here. First explain the support you received, or are receiving. Then, explain the concrete results of this support. Example: I am six months away from completing a certificate program and look forward to a higher paying job in the construction industry. Or, I finally earned my Associates degree, so I have now been employed in the growing health care field for three years].

The results of my career advancement included [explain your story here by providing the positive effects of the training and support you received. Example: guaranteeing my family's financial security through a steady paycheck, securing housing in a safe neighborhood because I had gained a better understanding of my household budget].

As a [graduate from/participant in] a program that directly, positively and substantially benefits from Women Work! and the Women's Bureau, I am strongly urge you to restore funding to these programs for FY 2007 and years to come.

Sincerely,

[YOUR NAME]