Feinstein’s absence jeopardizes Julie Su’s confirmation

Senator Dianne Feinstein’s (D-CA) extended absence could jeopardize fellow California Julie Su’s confirmation as the next labor secretary. Su was recently nominated for the role by President Joe Biden.

According to CNN, Su’s confirmation is set for Thursday but she has yet to secure key Democratic support. Two Democratic Senators, Montana Sen. Jon Tester and West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin, are reluctant to support for Su. They are both up for re-election in red states.

Feinstein is currently unable to attend Senate votes as she recovers from the shingles virus, The San Francisco Chronicle reports. Her absence, combined with the lack of support from Tester and Manchin, could endanger Su’s confirmation. Currently, the Democrats only control the Senate 51-49.

Su currently serves as the Deputy Secretary of Labor. Before accepting that role within the Biden administration, she was the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency and the state’s labor commissioner.

Organizations like Asian Americans Advancing Justice have reiterated their support for Su in recent weeks.

“Ms. Su’s career demonstrates how uniquely positioned she is to successfully lead the U.S. Department of Labor. Furthermore, her lived experience as a daughter of immigrants, a woman of color, and an Asian American makes her uniquely qualified to lead the Department charged with the immense task of protecting the livelihoods of all Americans in our vibrant and inclusive democracy. We urge the Senate to swiftly confirm Julie Su as U.S. Secretary of Labor,” AAAJ said in a press release last week.

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