WASHINGTON – Today, R. Alexander Acosta was sworn in by Vice President Mike Pence as the 27^th Secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor.

After being sworn in, Secretary Acosta made the following remarks:

“I want to thank President Trump, Vice President Pence and the members of the Senate, for the privilege of serving as Secretary of Labor.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor will begin taking actions to develop a comprehensive agency reform plan, as directed by guidance from the Office of Management and Budget. The goal is to create a more efficient and accountable department that works for job seekers, workers, employers and retirees across the U.S.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. General Services Administration today canceled the solicitation for the Frances Perkins Building exchange project (to include the Request for Expressions of Interest (REOI) for sites and the Request for Proposals (RFP) Phase I). After reviewing the preliminary phases of the project, GSA determined that the exchange mechanism was not the optimal means to maximize the government’s return on the Perkins building, which is located at 200 Constitution Avenue NW in Washington.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor announced plans today to protect U.S. workers from H-1B program discrimination by providing greater transparency and oversight.

WASHINGTON – Today, President Donald J. Trump signed legislation to nullify a U.S. Department of Labor rule that narrowly limited the circumstances under which drug testing may be carried out by states in administering their unemployment insurance systems.

WASHINGTON – Acting U.S. Secretary of Labor Ed Hugler today issued a statement following the release of President Trump’s memorandum on the Department of Labor’s Fiduciary Rule:

“The Department of Labor will now consider its legal options to delay the applicability date as we comply with the President’s memorandum.”

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez issued the following statement about the December 2016 Employment Situation report released today:

WASHINGTON — The U.S. General Services Administration, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Labor, today announced the issuance of the Request for Proposals (RFP) — Phase I for a new DOL Headquarters.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez issued a statement regarding today’s release by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of its Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. General Services Administration, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Labor, today announced the plan for environmental, transportation and historic preservation studies at the Frances Perkins Building and other sites being explored for the department’s new headquarters.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez issued the following statement about the November 2016 Employment Situation report released today:

WASHINGTON – The U.S. General Services Administration, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Labor, today announced the conclusion of the site evaluations for the new DOL headquarters. GSA has identified three sites as potential locations. The conclusion of the site evaluations is part of GSA’s continued effort to explore options for a new DOL headquarters that would help enable the department’s mission to support a 21st century workforce.

The shortlist for a new DOL headquarters are:

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez issued the following statement about the October 2016 Employment Situation report released today:

“The American economy continued its solid recovery from the worst economic crisis of our lifetimes in October, with the addition of 161,000 jobs. All told, American businesses have added 15.5 million jobs since February 2010, and we are in the longest streak of overall job growth on record. Additionally, the unemployment rate ticked down slightly to 4.9 percent.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor’s blog today features a post by U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez on the importance of affordable child care for America’s working families.

Please find the post’s text below, or read it here:

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez issued the following statement on the filing of lawsuits by a group of states, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and other organizations in the Eastern District of Texas challenging the update to the Fair Labor Standards Act’s overtime rules for white-collar, salaried workers:

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez today issued the following statement in response to California Gov. Jerry Brown signing Senate Bill 1015 and Assembly Bill 1066.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez issued the following statement about the August 2016 Employment Situation report released today:

WASHINGTON – To ensure that federal contractors better comply with laws that protect their workers’ safety, wages and civil rights, the U.S. Department of Labor and the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council today announced final regulations and guidance implementing the Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces Executive Order.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez today issued the following statement in response to the introduction of the Overtime Reform and Enhancement Act. The proposed legislation would delay implementation of the department’s final rule updating overtime protections for millions of U.S. workers:

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez issued the following statement about the June 2016 Employment Situation report released today: