Washington, DC (CapitalWirePR) December 19 - The Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) applauded President-elect Obama’s nomination of Congresswoman Hilda L. Solis for Secretary of Labor. Today’s nomination completed the President-elect’s Cabinet, creating an extraordinarily diverse, representative, and qualified Administration. Of particular significance to the over 45 million Latinos in the United States, this cabinet will include 3 outstanding Hispanic leaders from our community along with many allies.
For Congresswoman Solis, this nomination is recognition of her leadership on the issues related to labor, healthcare, and the environment. A recent achievement of hers came just one year ago today when her legislation, The Green Jobs Act of 2007, was included in H.R. 6. Through the investment in renewable energy outlined in her legislation, 3 million new jobs will be created over the next decade and $125 million will be invested in work force training targeted to veterans, displaced workers, at risk youth, and individuals under 200 percent of the federal poverty line.
As a California State Senator, she was on the frontlines in the fight to secure a living wage, raising the state’s minimum wage from $4.25 to $5.75. She was trailblazer in the area of environmental justice, redefining the way low income and minority communities were assessed as potential locations for waste disposal and other polluting facilities. She authored legislation that sought to protect and improve working conditions and rights for farm workers, garment workers, the construction industry, janitors, state and local employees, and many others.
"The CHC is losing one of the hardest working Members in Congress,” said Congressman Joe Baca (CA-43), Chair of the CHC. “As a champion of healthcare, environmental issues, and workers rights, there is no better person than Congresswoman Solis to lead our Labor Department. I look forward to working with the Labor Secretary-designate in ensuring fair and just labor standards for our nation.”
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (CA-08) affirmed, “I applaud President-elect Obama’s selection of my colleague and friend Congresswoman Hilda Solis to serve as America’s next Labor Secretary. Congresswoman Solis has been a tireless advocate on behalf of Hispanic and all working families and will make an excellent Secretary of Labor. While we are all thrilled about her nomination, her leadership on health and environmental issues and her voice in the Hispanic Caucus will be missed in Congress.”
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