“It was refreshing to see the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions vote to confirm Thomas Perez for U.S. Secretary of Labor today. Perez is a highly qualified public servant who has dedicated his career to advancing workers’ rights and vigorously enforcing civil rights laws. His integrity, professional and impeccable record would make him a strong Labor Secretary. The full Senate should act quickly to confirm him.

America’s women and working families depend on the Secretary of Labor to protect and promote safety, equality opportunity and fairness in our nation’s workplaces by enforcing and strengthening civil rights and labor laws. As former secretary of Maryland’s Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation and former assistant attorney general at the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, Thomas Perez has extensive experience and expertise in promoting these fundamental values. And he has been a strong, unwavering advocate for women.

During his tenure as assistant attorney general, the Civil Rights Division fought diligently for equal employment opportunity for women by challenging pay discrimination, discriminatory physical tests and promotion practices, pregnancy discrimination, and sex segregation in the workforce. The division also made significant advances for women in our nation’s schools, in cases of discrimination and harassment in housing, and in combating police misconduct in investigating violence against women.

It is shameful that such a qualified nominee has been subject to baseless and tired attacks. We hope that today’s vote is a sign that the Senate is ready to move forward on this critical nomination. Confirming Thomas Perez as Secretary of Labor would be good for women, workplaces and the nation. The Senate has no excuse but to confirm him right away.”

# # # #

NOTE: Yesterday, women’s organizations submitted a letter to senators in support of Perez’s confirmation. The letter can be found here.