Ranking Member Cassidy Criticizes Scheduled Closed-Door Committee Vote on Julie Su with No Public Hearing, Reexpresses Opposition
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, delivered a floor speech criticizing HELP Committee Chair Bernie Sanders’ (I-VT) decision to hold a closed-door committee vote tomorrow to consider the nomination of Julie Su for Secretary of the Department of Labor (DOL) with no public hearing. This comes after the HELP Chair denied a formal request from Cassidy to hold a public hearing on her nomination to allow members of the Committee to address their concerns with Ms. Su directly over her leadership at DOL.
Specifically, Cassidy discussed Ms. Su’s troubling record as Acting DOL Secretary, implementing policies that promote large labor unions at the expense of workers’ freedoms and economic growth. This includes DOL’s final worker classification rule that dismantles the gig economy and jeopardizes the ability of 27 million Americans to work as independent contractors.
There are also serious concerns about Ms. Su’s mismanagement of DOL. Specifically, Cassidy cites DOL’s failure to prevent the dramatic increase in illegal child labor, which has risen by 50 percent since 2022. This is amid alarming reports that the senior DOL officials repeatedly ignored warnings and downplayed the exploitation of migrant children for cheap labor, to which Ms. Su has failed to adequately respond.
This is the second time the HELP Committee will vote on Ms. Su’s nomination. Ms. Su’s previous nomination failed to secure a Senate vote before her nomination was returned to the White House at the conclusion of the first session of the 118th Congress.
“During Ms. Su’s first nomination hearing for Secretary of Labor last April, the Committee addressed a variety of concerns with her past record in California and her tenure at the Department of Labor,” said Dr. Cassidy. “Since then, concerns over Ms. Su’s leadership of DOL have grown. They warrant further public review from this Committee.”
“The Chair’s decision to not hold a public hearing on Ms. Su is unacceptable and shows a lack of transparency from the Majority. It undermines the Committee’s constitutional duty to advise and consent on presidential nominees,” continued Dr. Cassidy. “No one is above accountability, especially an unconfirmed yet acting cabinet-level nominee with massive influence over our nation’s economy.”
Click here to watch Cassidy’s full speech.
Cassidy’s speech as prepared for delivery can be found below:
Madam President,
This week, the HELP Committee will be holding a vote on the renomination of Julie Su for Secretary of Labor. At the direction of the Chair, this committee vote is taking place behind closed doors without a public hearing or an opportunity to hear from Ms. Su directly.
Important to note that the Committee is voting on Julie Su’s nomination for the second time. Her first nomination failed and was returned to the White House after the Majority Leader declined to give her a vote on the Senate floor in the face of strong bipartisan opposition.
During Ms. Su’s first nomination hearing for Secretary of Labor last April, the Committee addressed a variety of concerns with her past record in California and her tenure at the Department of Labor.
Since then, concerns over Ms. Su’s leadership of DOL have grown. They warrant further public review from this Committee.
Earlier this month, I sent a formal request to the HELP Committee Chair to hold a public hearing on Ms. Su’s second nomination so members of this Committee can discuss these concerns directly with Ms. Su. Unfortunately, the Chair denied our request and is instead ramming through Ms. Su’s nomination behind closed doors without a full public hearing in the Committee. This is unacceptable.
It has been almost a year since Ms. Su’s nomination hearing. It is important we explore the many issues that have arisen since then and get an explanation for these serious concerns over Ms. Su’s nomination.
Ms. Su has built a troubling record as Acting DOL Secretary, implementing policies that promote large labor unions at the expense of workers’ freedoms and economic growth.
Currently, Ms. Su is overseeing the implementation of DOL’s worker classification rule that dismantles the gig economy and jeopardizes the ability of 27 million Americans to work as independent contractors.
Additionally, DOL has also proposed a new overtime rule that dramatically increases the overtime pay threshold by 55 percent, reducing job opportunities and raising prices for American families.
DOL has also released a new policy that empowers outside union officials to participate and inject their influence in workplace inspections even when that workplace is not unionized.
These are all immensely problematic actions taken by an Acting Secretary who lacks Senate confirmation. The Biden administration’s attempt to circumvent the advice and consent provision of the Constitution by leveraging Ms. Su’s previous position as Deputy Secretary also brings these actions into legal question.
There are also serious concerns about Ms. Su’s ability to manage DOL.
Under her leadership, DOL has failed to prevent the dramatic increase in illegal child labor, which has risen by 50 percent since 2022. There are even alarming reports that senior DOL officials repeatedly ignored warnings and downplayed the exploitation of migrant children for cheap labor. When the Committee asked Ms. Su to explain DOL’s failure to address child labor violations, she repeatedly failed to comply with congressional oversight.
Additionally, DOL has struggled to process H-2B guest workers visas, which are crucial for employers that experience workforce shortages based on the season. These delays are already having significant impacts on employers and have led to rising prices on families.
The American people deserve a competent secretary at the Department of Labor. As outlined in the Constitution, the Senate is still supposed to vote on whether to confirm Ms. Su. HELP Committee members need the ability to raise these concerns to Ms. Su and get answers.
Nomination hearings are not just checking a box. They are a crucial part of the process. Every Senator needs the information revealed in hearings to evaluate and decide how they will vote on the floor.
The Chair’s decision to not hold a public hearing on Ms. Su is unacceptable and shows a lack of transparency from the Majority. It undermines the Committee’s constitutional duty to advise and consent on presidential nominees.
No one is above accountability, especially an unconfirmed yet acting cabinet-level nominee with massive influence over our nation’s economy.
As ranking member of the HELP Committee, I will continue to lead Senate Republicans in holding Ms. Su accountable. We need to ensure she fairly enforces our nation’s labor laws.
Thank you.
For all news and updates from HELP Republicans, visit our website or Twitter at @GOPHELP.
