In the final days of the Biden administration, an 11th hour effort is underway to confirm Julie Su as Labor Secretary.
She has been acting labor secretary since March 2023 when Marty Walsh resigned from the position to run the National Hockey League.
Republicans and independent Senator Joe Manchin (I-W. Va) have declined to support her.
However, Axios is reporting that Manchin is now dropping his opposition to Su.
Pressure is now on Sen Chuck Schumer (D-NY) to put her nomination up for a vote.
“Confirming Acting Secretary Su would not only solidify her leadership but send a powerful message: working-class immigrant communities deserve a voice at the table, and their contributions to the economy and society are valued,” said Sung Yeon Choimorrow, the executive director of the National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum.
“No asterisks, no qualifiers—just the full recognition,” said Choimorrow in her statement to AsAmNews as she urged Schumer to bring the matter up for approval.
Several Senators have joined the push for Su, reported NPR.
“I’m doing everything I can to get Julie Su confirmed as Secretary of Labor before President Biden leaves office,” Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth wrote in a statement to NPR. “It would represent long overdue recognition of the incredible work she’s done for years — without the title she so obviously deserves.”
Su says the acting title has not slowed her down. She points to the $1 billion she won for workers experiencing wage theft and the new protections implemented for farm workers, miners and construction workers.
A Schumer representative declined to comment while Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-VT) expressed skepticism.
“Julie Su has been the best secretary of labor that I’ve seen since I’ve been in Congress,” Sen. Bernie Sanders told Axios. “Not quite sure what putting her in office for two weeks does.”
However, AAPI leaders say the shift from acting labor secretary to labor secretary would be an important one.
“Su’s permanent appointment would not only be a win for AAPI communities or women, it would be a win for working class families and a stronger and more equitable labor market,” said Choimorrow. “Acting Secretary Su has the lived experiences needed to reform and uphold a fair labor ecosystem for all. She also has a proven track record of sitting down with the business community as well as organized labor, listening deeply to all sides, and delivering results for the American economy, while protecting labor rights and advocating for working people every step of the way.
(Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated Su would be the first Asian American labor secretary. Elaine Chao served as Labor Secretary under George W Bush. We regret the error).
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