NWLC Urges Senate to Allow Up-or-Down Vote on Nomination of Tom Perez for Labor Secretary

(Washington, D.C.) Today, the Senate will vote on whether to proceed to a confirmation vote on the nomination of Thomas Perez, the current Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, to be the next Secretary of Labor.

“Tom Perez is a highly qualified nominee and the right person to lead the Department of Labor. He has the experience and commitment to enforce the federal laws upon which women, and all workers, rely,” said Marcia D. Greenberger, Co-President of the National Women’s Law Center (NWLC). “The Center urges the Senate to move his nomination to an up-or-down floor vote.”

Tom Perez has a proven track record of protecting and advancing legal rights and protections crucial to women. Under his leadership, the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice has reinvigorated enforcement of federal laws against discrimination, including Title IX, Title VII, the Fair Housing Act, the Equal Pay Act and the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act. Moreover, he has received enthusiastic praise from stakeholders across the political spectrum for his earlier service as Secretary of Maryland’s Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation.

“The U.S. Department of Labor enforces laws that affect workers’ daily lives, including family and medical leave, wage and hour protections, equal opportunity and fair pay,” said NWLC Co-President Nancy Duff Campbell. “The Labor Department also houses the Women’s Bureau, which seeks to improve working conditions for women. It is critically important that this agency has the leadership it needs to oversee its mission.”

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