September 10, 2009

Statement of U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis on Sen. Tom Harkin as new chairman of HELP Committee

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement regarding Sen. Tom Harkin as chairman of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee:

"I am delighted to congratulate Sen. Tom Harkin on his new role as chairman of the HELP Committee.

September 4, 2009

Statement of U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis on August employment numbers

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis issued the following statement on the August 2009 Employment Situation report issued today:

"This past August, the economy lost 216,000 jobs – fewer than what most experts expected. The overall unemployment rate is now 9.7 percent. Last month's jobs loss is an improvement from the average 700,000 jobs our economy was losing every month when this administration took office, but is still by no means acceptable.

September 4, 2009

Statement by U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis for Labor Day

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement for Labor Day:

"On Monday, Sept. 7, we will celebrate a great American holiday – Labor Day. Over the years, it may have become a time for backyard barbecues. But the real intent behind today's holiday is honoring the contributions of American workers.

September 2, 2009

Statement of Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis on report detailing violations of employment and labor laws in U.S. cities

WASHINGTON – A survey of 4,387 workers in low-wage industries across the three largest U.S. cities – Chicago, Los Angeles and New York – found that the core workplace protections many Americans take for granted are failing significant numbers of workers.

August 26, 2009

Statement of Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis on death of Sen. Edward Kennedy

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement regarding the death of Sen. Edward Kennedy:

"Last night we lost a hero, and I lost a friend. The passing of Sen. Edward Kennedy is an indescribable loss for our nation and the world.

"In 2000, I had the great honor of being presented the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award by the senator. And, I will always remember his insights and advice during my confirmation hearing.

August 20, 2009

U.S. Labor Secretary Hilda L. Solis, in response to worker fatality decline in Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, says one death is too many

WASHINGTON – In response to today's Bureau of Labor Statistics report announcing the preliminary Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries of 5,071 fatal work injuries in 2008 – down from a total of 5,657 fatal work injuries reported in 2007 – U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis issued the following statement:

"With every one of these fatalities, the lives of a worker's family members were shattered and forever changed. We can't forget that fact.

August 12, 2009

U.S. Labor Secretary Hilda L. Solis announces changes in Job Corps leadership

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced that Dr. Esther Johnson, national director of Job Corps, will be leaving her position effective today. Dr. Johnson will undertake new duties as a senior advisor in the Office of the Deputy Secretary of Labor. In her stead, Lynn Intrepidi, former director of the Philadelphia Region of Job Corps will become acting director of the program.

August 12, 2009

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.

August 11, 2009

Statement of U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis on death of Eunice Kennedy Shriver

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement on the death of Eunice Kennedy Shriver:

August 7, 2009

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:

"Today is a proud and historic day for our nation. Congress has confirmed its third female Supreme Court Justice and its first Latina woman to the highest court in our land.

August 7, 2009

Statement of U.S. Labor Secretary Hilda L. Solis on July 2009 employment numbers

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis issued the following statement on the July 2009 Employment Situation report released today:

"Today's unemployment numbers continue to show the challenges of the economic problems that this administration inherited. These figures are a reminder that we still have a lot of work to do on behalf of America's workers.

July 6, 2009

Statement of U.S. Labor Secretary Hilda L. Solis regarding death of former Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement regarding the death of former Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara:

"I offer my condolences to the McNamara family during this difficult time.

"Robert S. McNamara was a fellow Californian and a quintessential public servant.

July 2, 2009

Statement of U.S. Labor Secretary Hilda L. Solis On June 2009 employment numbers

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis issued the following statement on the June 2009 Employment Situation report released today:

"Today's news is a reminder of the severity of the economic problem that this administration inherited and continues to illustrate the pressing needs of American working families.

June 25, 2009

Statement of U.S. Labor Secretary Hilda L. Solis regarding death of retired Maj. Gen. David F. Wherley Jr.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement regarding the death of retired Maj. Gen. David F. Wherley Jr., who served as a member of the U.S. Department of Labor's Job Corps Advisory Committee:

"We at the Labor Department are deeply saddened to learn about the tragic deaths of retired Air Force Maj. Gen. David F. Wherley Jr. and his wife, Ann, who died in the June 22 Metro subway accident.

"We also want to extend our sincerest condolences to their children, David and Betsy.

June 22, 2009

U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis participates in greening of low-income residence as part of United We Serve

LOS ANGELES – U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis today participated in the "green" refurbishing and painting of a Los Angeles low-income residence with high school students and adult volunteers through LA CAUSA, a youth leadership and community development organization that is a grantee of the Labor Department's nationwide YouthBuild program. The effort was part of a kick-off for United We Serve, President Obama's summer service initiative to create meaningful change in America's communities through long-term volunteer involvement.

June 11, 2009

Statement by U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis on death of Stephen Tyrone Johns

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement on the death of Stephen Tyrone Johns:

"For the past six years, Stephen Tyrone Johns put on his uniform and went to work as a security guard at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. But yesterday, while performing his duties to serve and protect, he lost his life and before doing so, saved countless others.

"Stephen Tyrone Johns is among the 5,700 American workers, good men and women, who die every year just doing their jobs.

June 5, 2009

Statement of U.S. Labor Secretary Hilda L. Solis on May 2009 employment numbers

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis issued the following statement on the May 2009 Employment Situation report released today:

"This past May, our economy lost 345,000 jobs, bringing the total number of jobs lost since this recession began to 6 million. The overall unemployment rate increased to 9.4 percent.

June 4, 2009

Statement of U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis on death of John F. Henning

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today issued the following statement on the death of John F. Henning:

"Today American workers lost a tireless advocate, and I lost a dear a friend. I would like to extend my heartfelt condolences to the family of John F. 'Jack' Henning.

"For most of his life, Jack Henning was on the frontlines of the labor movement, fighting for civil rights, equality and justice for working Americans. He was a man of modest means, with a thirst for knowledge and a tremendous sense of compassion for his fellow man.

May 26, 2009

Statement by U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis on President Obamas nomination of Sonia Sotomayor to U.S. Supreme Court

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

May 8, 2009

Statement of U.S. Labor Secretary Hilda L. Solis on April employment numbers

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis issued the following statement on the April 2009 Employment Situation report released today:

"This past April, our economy lost 539,000 jobs, bringing the total number of jobs lost since this recession began to 5.7 million. The overall unemployment rate has increased to 8.9 percent.