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LULAC Lauds Perez Confirmation as Key Victory for Latinos and Workers

July 18, 2013

Contact: Paloma Zuleta, pzuleta at lulac.org, (202) 812-4477

Washington, D.C. – Today, with a 54 to 46 vote, the U.S. Senate confirmed Thomas Edward Perez as U.S. Secretary of Labor. President Obama nominated Thomas Perez, the Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division at the Department of Justice (DOJ) to replace Secretary Solis in March of 2013. The confirmation has been delayed by partisan disputes over the Senate’s confirmation process.

“His professional and personal life have been devoted to working for the rights of the underserved,” said LULAC National President Margaret Moran. “Over the past several years, we have worked closely with the Civil Rights Division of the DOJ and based upon that experience, we know that Mr. Perez will be an advocate for the working class and work on key labor issues that impact our community.”

Mr. Perez is the son of Dominican immigrants and rose within the Department of Justice to become a well-respected advocate who has aggressively enforced our nation’s civil rights laws. Mr. Perez is only the second nominee and the first Latino to date to be confirmed by the Senate.

“Perez has been a champion for civil rights, voting rights and immigrant communities,” said LULAC National Executive Director Brent Wilkes. “As Secretary of Labor, we expect Thomas Perez to continue his track record of standing up for the powerless and holding the powerful accountable.”

The primary role of the Department of Labor is to implement the employment law provisions in order to help support working families and respond to the needs of our nation’s communities. “We hope that with the confirmation of Thomas Perez the agency will continue its 100 year history of protecting the rights of workers,” concluded Wilkes.

About LULAC:
The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is the nation’s largest and oldest civil rights volunteer-based organization that empowers Hispanic Americans and builds strong Latino communities. Headquartered in Washington, DC, with 900 councils around the United States and Puerto Rico, LULAC’s programs, services and advocacy address the most important issues for Latinos, meeting critical needs of today and the future. For more information, visit www.LULAC.org
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