On February 28, 2023, President Joe Biden announced that he had nominated Julie Su for U.S. Secretary of Labor. Over six months later, her nomination is still stalled.
Su served as Deputy Secretary of Labor from July 2021 to March 2023 under former Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh. When Walsh left the role in March, Su was named “acting” Secretary of Labor, The Hill reports.
In order to officially be the Labor Secretary, Su’s nomination must be confirmed by the Senate. Republicans have vehemently opposed the nomination. According to Spectrum News NY 1, many Senate Republicans are hoping to force President Biden to withdraw Su’s name from consideration.
Su’s confirmation has also stalled because of pushback from moderates like Sen. Joe Manchin, a Democrat from West Virginia.
“While her credentials and qualifications are impressive, I have genuine concerns that Julie Su’s more progressive background prevents her from doing this and for that reason I cannot support her nomination to serve as Secretary of Labor,” Manchin said in a statement in July, according to The Hill.
Su says she plans to stay the course.
“I’m all in for doing it,” Su told The Messenger. “I don’t have an intention of going anywhere.”
AsAmNews is published by the non-profit, Asian American Media Inc. Please support our fundraisers.
Join us for a stimulating conference about issues that divide the Asian American communities. Our fundraiser Common Ground and the dinner after will be held October 26 at UC Berkeley.
Then purchase your tickets to Up Close with Connie Chung, America’s first Asian American to anchor a nightly network newscast. The in-depth conversation with Connie will be held November 14 at 7:30 at Columbia University’s Milbank Chapel in the Teacher’s College. All proceeds benefit AsAmNews.
