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U.S. NEWS Wednesday 1 March 2023
Biden to nominate Julie Su as next U.S. labor secretary

By SEUNG MIN KIM and Asian American and Pa- about Su had been fully
ZEKE MILLER cific Islander advocates to vetted two years ago and
Associated Press select Su to head the de- that the coming confirma-
WASHINGTON (AP) — Presi- partment. tion process will show their
dent Joe Biden is nominat- This administration was charges "have no basis."
ing Julie Su, the current the first in more than two Chu noted that Biden had
deputy and former Cali- decades to not have a said he would name a
fornia official, as his next Cabinet secretary of AAPI Cabinet that looked like
labor secretary, replacing descent, despite its regu- America, and "he fulfilled
the departing incumbent, lar declarations that it was that promise."
former Boston Mayor Marty the most diverse in history. Su's nomination also comes
Walsh. Vice President Kamala Har- at a key moment for la-
Su, a civil rights attorney ris and U.S. Trade Repre- bor unions, which have
and former head of Cali- sentative Katherine Tai are been facing a decline in
fornia's labor department, of AAPI descent but don't membership for decades.
was central to negotia- lead a Cabinet depart- Julie Su, of Calif., speaks during a hearing of the Senate Health, Unions gained some mo-
tions between labor and ment. Education, Labor and Pensions Committee for her to be Deputy mentum as workers at ma-
freight rail companies late Su, if confirmed, would also Secretary of Labor, on Capitol Hill, March 16, 2021, in Washington. jor employers such as Ama-
last year, working to avert expand the majority of Associated Press zon and Starbucks pushed
an economically debili- women serving in the presi- first AAPI Cabinet Secre- bor post and praising Su's to unionize.
tating strike. She also has dent's Cabinet. She was tary!" credentials as a leader But Biden — an avowed
worked to broaden em- confirmed by the Senate to "It certainly is better late and enforcer of labor laws pro-union president — had
ployee training programs her current role in 2021 by a than never," Chu said in a including minimum wage to work with Congress to
and crack down on wage 50–47 vote. brief interview, citing CA- and occupational safety impose a contract on rail
theft. If confirmed by the Su's nomination drew swift PAC support for Su two standards. workers last year to avoid a
Senate, Su would also be support from Democrats years ago for the top La- She said GOP criticism possible strike.q
the first Asian American in on Capitol Hill, with Sen-
the Biden administration to ate Majority Leader Chuck
serve in the Cabinet at the Schumer saying she would
secretary level. be "phenomenal" in the
Biden, in a statement on job.
Tuesday, called her a Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.,
"champion for workers." who will preside over Su's
"Julie is a tested and ex- confirmation hearing as
perienced leader, who will chair of the Senate health,
continue to build a stron- education, labor and pen-
ger, more resilient, and sions committee, praised
more inclusive economy the selection. Sanders had
that provides Americans a urged consideration of
fair return for their work and Sara Nelson, the president
an equal chance to get of the flight attendants
ahead," he said. union, but made clear Su
"She helped avert a nation- had his strong support.
al rail shutdown, improved "I'm confident Julie Su will
access to good jobs free be an excellent Secretary
from discrimination through of Labor," he tweeted. "I
my Good Jobs Initiative, look forward to working
and is ensuring that the with her to protect workers'
jobs we create in critical rights and build the trade
sectors like semiconduc- union movement in this
tor manufacturing, broad- country."
band and healthcare are But Louisiana Sen. Bill Cas-
good-paying, stable and sidy, the top Republican on
accessible jobs for all." the Senate health, educa-
Su was considered to lead tion and labor committee
the department when who opposed Su when she
Biden won the White House was selected for deputy
but instead became the secretary, called her work
department's deputy. overseeing the depart-
Walsh announced his in- ment "troubling" and "anti-
tention to leave the admin- worker."
istration earlier this month The committee should
to lead the National Hock- "have a full and thorough
ey League Players' Asso- hearing process," Cassidy
ciation. Su will serve as the said.
acting secretary until the Rep. Judy Chu, D-Calif.,
Senate acts on her nomi- who chairs the Congres-
nation. sional Asian Pacific Ameri-
Biden had been under can Caucus, said she was
pressure from the Congres- "overjoyed" by the selec-
sional Asian Pacific Ameri- tion, thanking Biden in a
can Caucus and other tweet for "nominating your