Many clients have asked for more information regarding Representative Hilda Solis, whom President-Elect Obama nominated for Secretary of Labor on December 19, 2008.
Many clients have asked for more information regarding Representative Hilda Solis, whom President-Elect Obama nominated for Secretary of Labor on December 19, 2008. Ms. Solis is serving her fourth term in Congress, representing California's 32nd Congressional District, and was re-elected to a fifth term in November 2008. Prior to her election to the House of Representatives, Ms. Solis was a member of the California state senate from 1994 through 2001. She was a member of the California state assembly from 1992 to 1994.
As a member of the House of Representatives, Ms. Solis served on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, the House Committee on Natural Resources and the House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming.
Ms. Solis was a co-sponsor of the Fair Minimum Wage Act, which increased the federal minimum wage in 2007. Additionally, she authored legislation to provide $125 million for "green collar" job training, which was included in the energy reform bill signed into law in December 2007.
Ms. Solis was also a co-sponsor of the Employee Free Choice Act. In her floor speech in favor of the Act, Ms. Solis stated, "I rise in strong support as a family member from a strong union background. My father was a shop steward for the Teamsters and my mother was a proud worker for the United Rubber Workers who worked tirelessly for 20 and 25 years. Without the help and protection we received in retirement benefits I know myself and my seven siblings would not be where we are today."
In nominating Ms. Solis, President-Elect Obama stated, "I know that Hilda will show the same kind of leadership as Secretary of Labor that she showed in California and on the Education and Labor Committee by protecting workers' rights – from organizing to collective bargaining, from keeping our workplaces safe to making our unions strong." Labor leaders have also expressed their support for Ms. Solis.
If you have any questions about this Alert or other labor or employment related issues, please contact the Ford & Harrison attorney with whom you usually work.