Senate Confirms Julie Su to Serve as Deputy Secretary of Labor

Senate votes to confirm Julie Su by a vote of 50-47

Senator Murray: “With millions out of a job and millions more struggling to get by, it’s clear that workers need a Deputy Secretary of Labor committed to building back a stronger, fairer economy … This is why I’m so glad to support Julie Su’s nomination.”

***WATCH SENATOR MURRAY’S FULL REMARKS HERE***

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, the Senate voted to confirm Julie Su, to serve as U.S. Deputy Secretary of Labor by a vote of 50-47. In remarks on the Senate floor, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, reiterated her strong support for Ms. Su, highlighting her long record as a champion for workers and the importance of having leaders at the Department of Labor (DOL) committed to building back a stronger, fairer economy that works for everyone.

“With millions out of a job and millions more struggling to get by, it’s clear that workers need a Deputy Secretary of Labor committed to building back a stronger, fairer economy,” Senator Murray said during her floor remarks. “Someone who will work diligently to ensure workers have a fair and just workplace, a livable wage, a secure retirement, safe working conditions, access to accommodations, and are treated with dignity and respect. And this is why I’m so glad to support Julie Su’s nomination.”

In her remarks, Senator Murray noted Ms. Su’s long record fighting for workers, including as a labor lawyer, California Labor Commissioner, and California’s Secretary of Labor, where she implemented increases to the state minimum wage, fought to create good-paying, high-quality jobs, and expanded access to benefits for gig workers and workers who are paid low-wages.

Senator Murray continued, “To build back an economy that works for everyone—not just the biggest corporations and wealthiest individuals it’s critical that we have a fully staffed Department of Labor and leaders committed to protecting workers. So, it’s critical we confirm Julie Su as Deputy Secretary of Labor without delay.”

Senator Murray’s full remarks, as prepared for delivery, are below:

“Thank you M. President.

“Today, workers are still struggling through one of the most unequal economic crises in modern American history.

“With millions out of a job and millions more struggling to get by it’s clear that workers need a Deputy Secretary of Labor committed to building back a stronger, fairer economy.

“Someone who will work diligently to ensure workers have a fair and just workplace, a livable wage, a secure retirement, safe working conditions, access to accommodations, and are treated with dignity and respect.

“And this is why I’m so glad to support Julie Su’s nomination.

“As a labor lawyer, Julie Su fought to defend Thai garment workers who were trafficked into the United States and forced to work behind barbed wire and under armed guard, and she then pushed to change the law to ensure corporations are held responsible for working conditions in their supply chains.

“As California Labor Commissioner, Julie Su cracked down on wage theft, and launched a multilingual campaign to help workers understand their rights, and feel safe speaking up about employers stealing their wages.

“And as California’s Secretary of Labor, Julie Su has implemented increases to the state minimum wage, created good-paying, high-quality jobs, expanded access to benefits for gig workers and workers who are paid low-wages, and protected essential workers who are bearing the brunt of this pandemic.

“It’s clear her experience leading one of the largest state labor departments in the nation, her decades-long commitment to fighting for workers’ rights, and her personal story as the multilingual daughter of Chinese immigrants—have given her the experience, background, and values to be a successful Deputy Secretary of Labor.

“She’s the right person for the job—and I urge all my colleagues to join me in voting to confirm her.

“Because right now, too many workers still lack crucial protections and rights and struggle to make ends meet, especially women, workers of color, LGBTQ workers, migrant workers, and workers with disabilities.

“To build back an economy that works for everyone—not just the biggest corporations and wealthiest individuals, it’s critical that we have a fully staffed Department of Labor and leaders committed to protecting workers.

“So, it’s critical we confirm Julie Su as Deputy Secretary of Labor without delay.

“Thank you M. President and I yield the floor.” 

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