WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis issued the following statement regarding the Bureau of Labor Statistics' annual "Union Members – 2010" report released today:

"Today, the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that, in 2010, the unionization rate of employed wage and salary workers was 11.9 percent, down from 12.3 percent in 2009. Among private sector employees, the rate dropped to 6.9 percent from 7.2 percent in 2009.

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement regarding the death of R. Sargent Shriver:

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement regarding the House of Representatives' vote to repeal the Affordable Care Act:

"The American people are looking to Washington for solutions to grow our economy and make America more competitive. Instead, Republicans in the House of Representatives have chosen to vote to repeal individuals' freedom, control and choice in health care decisions.

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement regarding the shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords:

"My thoughts and prayers are with my friend and former colleague, Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and all of the victims of this terrible, senseless act of violence.

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis issued the following statement on the December 2010 Employment Situation report released today:

WASHINGTON – Officials at seven of the U.S. Department of Labor s agencies will host live Web chats and, in one case, a conference call to discuss their respective regulatory agendas during the first week of January 2011. These events are open to the public and members of the press. The Labor Department s entire regulatory agenda was published in the Dec. 20 issue of the Federal Register.

WHO: Officials of U.S. Department of Labor agencies

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis made the following remarks in response to the Senate vote on the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors, or Dream, Act:

Solis and Sebelius lead charge to end homelessness

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement regarding President Obama's framework for a bipartisan agreement to extend Unemployment Insurance and help middle-class families. The framework includes $56 billion to extend Unemployment Insurance, a $120 billion payroll tax cut for workers, $40 billion in tax cuts for the nation's hardest-hit families and students, and 100 percent expensing for small businesses over the course of 2011.

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement on the cusp of Congressional action on the Development, Relief, and Education for Minors Act. The DREAM Act would provide a process by which certain students and members of the military – who excelled through hard work and demonstrated their positive contributions to the nation – can obtain conditional nonimmigrant status and, after a period of time, lawful permanent residence:

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis issued the following statement on the November 2010 Employment Situation report released today:

"This past November, nonfarm payroll employment increased by 39,000 jobs, and the unemployment rate increased to 9.8 percent. Furthermore, the job numbers for the months of September and October were revised upward 38,000. This year, we've seen the creation of 1.2 million private sector jobs – steady growth averaging 106,000 new private sector jobs each month.

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement regarding the extension of Unemployment Insurance benefits:

"President Obama has said that Americans don't expect Washington to solve their problems, but they rightfully expect government to work for them – not against them. I agree.

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement on the extension of the expanded Trade Adjustment Assistance program:

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement regarding the increased enforcement and outreach efforts of the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division:

"Protecting worker rights is my top priority at the Department of Labor. It's not a slogan. It's a commitment that I have made to ensure workers receive all the protections that the law promises, and that no employer gains an unfair advantage by cheating workers out of their rightfully earned wages.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced initial funding allocations for Trade Adjustment Assistance for states to assist workers who lose their jobs due to outsourcing and foreign trade.

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement after the Senate's failure to invoke cloture (by a margin of 58 to 41) on S. 3772 – the Paycheck Fairness Act:

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis issued the following statement on the October 2010 Employment Situation report released today:

"This past October, nonfarm payroll employment increased by 151,000 jobs, with 159,000 jobs added in the private sector. The unemployment rate remained unchanged at 9.6 percent.

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis issued the following statement on the September 2010 Employment Situation report released today:

"This past September, nonfarm payroll employment edged down 95,000 jobs, but the economy gained 64,000 jobs in the private sector, and the unemployment rate remained at 9.6 percent.

WASHINGTON Direct support professionals – nurse aides, home health aides, and personal and home care aides – are the primary providers of paid hands-on care for millions of individuals with disabilities.

They assist individuals with a broad range of personal assistance including preparation of meals, helping with medications, bathing, dressing, mobility; and getting to planned activities, on a daily basis.

WASHINGTON Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement on National Historically Black Colleges and Universities Week:

"President Obama declared this week National Historically Black Colleges and Universities Week. I join him in celebrating the tremendous achievements of HBCUs and the many contributions that these institutions of higher learning and their graduates have made to our nation.