Statement of US Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis on death of Sen. Robert Byrd

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement on the death of Sen. Robert Byrd:

"Few people ever really earn the right to be called a legend; however, Sen. Robert Byrd earned it every day. For decades, the people of the Mountain State knew they had a true friend and someone who would fight for them and their families.

"I had the pleasure of working with Sen. Byrd on issues that impacted our nation's coal miners and their families. As the son of a coal miner, Sen. Byrd understood that we have a moral obligation to protect the men and women who go underground every day to dig the coal that fuels our economy, and to ensure that those men and women return safely to their loved ones after every shift.

"He was a compassionate and dedicated public servant who defended the Constitution every day in the Senate. His leadership, patriotism and wisdom will be missed."