The Senate's confirmation of Secretary Hilda Solis begins a sorely needed new era at the Department of Labor. Working together, President Obama, Secretary Solis, and the Congress will once again put the Labor Department on the side of working people who deserve fair wages, safe workplaces, job training to compete and win in the global economy, and the right to organize and bargain collectively.
Secretary Solis is uniquely qualified to lead the Labor Department in this new era due to her long record of fighting for better wages, protecting worker safety, and securing their pension.
I congratulate my dear friend on her confirmation and look forward to working with her in the days ahead.