Statement by U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis on the confirmation of Judge Sonia Sotomayor

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement on the confirmation of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court of the United States:

"Now that Justice Sonia Sotomayor has been confirmed, I want to congratulate her for this achievement and for her grace under fire as she had her judicial record closely scrutinized over the past 10 weeks. She handled herself with poise, but with her keen intellect and impeccable record, she won over the hearts and minds of members of Congress.

"Judge Sotomayor's story serves as an inspiration to us all. She is the daughter of working-class Puerto Rican parents who grew up in public housing in the Bronx. Driven by her mother's belief in the power of education and her unrelenting work ethic, she excelled in school and won a scholarship to Princeton University and later attended Yale Law. Today she is one of the most qualified and experienced Justices sitting on the Supreme Court. Her story demonstrates that anything is possible in this country and that the American Dream is alive and well.

"I also want to applaud President Obama for choosing Judge Sotomayor. His choice demonstrates his commitment to bring greater diversity of thought, perspective and experience to the nation's legal system. It's a pleasure and an honor to serve for him."

• Read this news release en Espa ol.

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