U. S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration Federal Building 525 Griffin Street Dallas, Texas 75202 February 2, 1988 Reply to the Attention of: 6TG The Honorable William P. Clements, Jr. Governor of Texas Austin, Texas 78711 Dear Governor Clements: The U. S. Department of Labor is aware that one of your highest priorities is jobs, putting Texans back to work. We strongly support your efforts in this regard, and have emphasized your objective to state and local agencies financed by our office. Among those agencies is the Texas Employment Commission (TEC). Although TEC is federally financed, it is managed and operated by the State, as are similar job service agencies in each of the other states and in the territories of Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. I am pleased to report to you that our most recent data show that in the program 1 year ending June 30, 1987, TEC help4 more individuals find jobs than did any of_ its____counterparts in other states. t—PliCiaT-6ti—obretin—robi;—T6-i-291,887 different indiViliffM—aUFTR-6 this 12 month period. k While this accomplishment is noteworthy in and of itself, it is even more so given a couple of other considerations. First, Texas received only six percent of the funds distributed among the states, but made eight percent of the job place- ments. That is far beyond what we would expect. Second, the achievement in Texas came during a period of high unemployment in the State. Needless to say, it is much more difficult for a job service agency to place people in jobs when the unemployment rate is high. We commend you for the great emphasis you are placing on helping people find jobs. I have heard TEC officials speak of that emphasis many times. TEC employees con- tinue to work very hard to support your goals and to make sure that public ser- vants in Texas do more and better than in any other state. Please accept our congratulations and thanks. Sincerely, FLOYD E. EDWARDS Regional Administrator