Senate Should Quickly Confirm Rep. Solis as Next Secretary of Labor

Congresswoman Hilda Solis is a strong champion of working families and will be an outstanding Secretary of Labor. Given the enormous economic challenges facing our nation, I urge the Senate to take swift action and confirm her nomination.

Congresswoman Solis will take the helm of the Department of Labor during an extremely trying time for our nation's economy and our workers. Just today we learned that 524,000 workers lost their jobs in December for a total of 3.6 million since the recession began. And, economists tell us that we may have not hit bottom.

This is why our nation's workers demand a Labor Secretary who understands the everyday struggles Americans are facing. Hilda Solis is the right person for the job. Her record in the California legislature as a leader on labor issues and her excellent work in Congress on behalf of our nation's working men and women will restore the Department of Labor as an advocate for hard working Americans.

I look forward to working with Secretary-designate Solis and the Obama administration to move the country forward on our nation's workers top priorities: expanding health care, ensuring fair and equal pay, improving worker safety, strengthening retirement security and rebuilding our middle class.

To read more about education and labor policy on the Hill, visit my blog, the EdLabor Journal.

Comments

[Kalie]

I am sorry to disappoint any Solis backers, but I saw Solis on CNN yesterday taking questions from Barbara Mikulski, and I thought Solis was clueless. Mikulski was talking about the job picture and where there was work to be had, other than building bridges and infrastructure. Mikulski identified the medical field and suggested that we funnel more people into those types of jobs.

Solis looked at her and her response told me she didnt have a clue. So I guess I am to assume that if I want a job, am not a union member or an immigrant or low wage worker, Solis is not going to be able to advocate for me? She only wants to get jobs for those making very low wages? What about the rest of us? There are no jobs and we are going to have "clueless" as Secretary of Labor. I think the immigrants have had enough support from the last president. He was just as clueless.

So if Obama wants a Secretary of Labor, he can call me. I have been doing alot more research than Solis on what jobs are available -- for the last two years!! The only people getting jobs are those with low wages. They are not the ones needing help right now.

[Eclectic Radical]

Yes, Rep. Solis has worked to improve free access to the US and defend the Hispanic community from INS witch-hunts for 'illegal aliens.' Good for her, illegal immigration is one of the things that forces wages down and legal access means employers must pay legal wages. This is the real reason behind most nativist campaigns, though plenty of nativist voters are genuine racists. Illegal immigration forces wages down while stringent deportation policies allow government expanded Big Brother power. Increased legal access to the United States is good for wages, as it destroys incentives to hire illegal workers if workers can come in legally.

Rep. Solis is a genuine liberal Democrat who supports labor union rights and fair treatment of employees and increased regulation of corporate misconduct. If 'illegal immigration' is your nightmare issue, no, she's nowhere near your first choice. If you care about the rights of all workers in America, fair pay, the right to unionize, and equal protection under the law regardless of whether you are a lawyer or a brick-layer, she's your girl.

The only thing worse than bigoted conservatives exploiting 'illegal immigration' in order to win votes is bigoted Democrats buying into or perpetuating the same behavior.

[SamEllison]

And how did your ancestors get here again?
Do you know about the history of our country?

[hey0there]

look up the STRIVE act. she co-sponsored it. This will tell you all you need to know about how important she thinks the American Worker is.

[hey0there]

she wants to expand the H1b "skilled" foreign worker program. great.
I'm really becoming disillusioned with this administration already.

[newpotusplease]

I would like to know what Hilda Solis would do to protect whistleblower rights at University of California

and what has she done in the past to take on UC corruption?

given all these recent scandals:

http://cloudminder.blogspot.com/

[mytwosense]

I find solace in the choice of Solis, but I tend to agree with the two comments below. With 3.6 million jobs lost, and more to come -- hers might be one of 'em.

[IForgotMyName]

Well, they have to move quickly. In a few months, there is no need for a secretary of labor anymore cause there won't be any laborers left thanks to Bush economics.

[MozKrew211]

I agree with you, Sir.