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| Deputy Labor Secretary Julie Su may be up for a promotion. |
The Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) threw their weight behind Julie A. Su to replace Walsh, who will be leaving the Cabinet to become head of the National Hockey League’s Players Association, according to WBUR.
Although Walsh hasn't confirmed his departure yet, that hasn't stopped CAPAC and other AANHPI advocates from lobbying for Su, who currently holds the No. 2 position in the Labor Dept.
“Deputy Secretary Su has dedicated her career to the promotion of workers’ rights and fair labor practices and to advancing equity and opportunities for all workers, including ones from historically underserved communities," states a CAPAC press release. "She would be a stellar, exceptionally qualified candidate to be Secretary of Labor and would deliver results for American workers and the Biden-Harris Administration immediately upon her confirmation."
Su was in the running to become Labor Secretary when Biden was forming his Cabinet but eventually Walsh, the former Boston mayor, got the job.
Walsh's appointment was the final Secretary-level position to be filled and AANHIPI leaders had hoped Su would get the position because there were no Asian Americans at the Secretary level on Biden's Cabinet.
To assuage the disappointment of Su's supporters, Biden created a new White house position to act as the President's liason to the AANHPI communities. Erika Moritsugu, who has a long history of working in several government positions in Washington, was appointed to that post.
Su, who has not said she would take the position even if it was offered, received more support with the endorsements of the influential Black Congressional Caucus and most labor leaders, garnered from the relationships she developed as California's Labor Secretary.
“It’s the first administration in 20 years without an [Asian American Pacific Islander] Cabinet secretary … This is the first chance they have to diversify the Cabinet,” Sen. Tammy Duckworth told Politico. “So I’m waiting to see. Hopefully they will nominate her or an AAPI.”
Duckworth and Sen. Mazie Hirono were so disappointed that Su was not appointed Labor Secretary in 2021 that they threatened to slow-walk Biden's appointments that need Senate approval.
Currently, there are three Asian Americans on Biden's Cabinet, Vice President Kamala Harris, US Trade Representative Katherine Tai and Arati Prabhakar, director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy. However, none of those posts have the prestige, power or high-profile given to a Secretary.
Some of Su's AANHPI supporters include the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum, Asian Pacific Insitute for Congressional Studies, National Asian Pacific American Bar Association and Advancing Asian American Justice.
"If nominated and confirmed as Secretary of Labor, she would become an even greater asset to the Biden Administration and Department of Labor (DOL) at the helm," said Asian Americans Advancing Justice, where Su worked for 15 years. "Julie Su has been an indispensable leader within DOL, working in lockstep with Secretary Walsh to advance President Biden’s agenda for a more inclusive economy. Now, she is even more profoundly qualified and positioned to further deliver on labor, workforce, and employment goals set forth by the Biden Administration."
“It’s the first administration in 20 years without an [Asian American Pacific Islander] Cabinet secretary … This is the first chance they have to diversify the Cabinet,” Sen. Tammy Duckworth told Politico. “So I’m waiting to see. Hopefully they will nominate her or an AAPI.”
Duckworth and Sen. Mazie Hirono were so disappointed that Su was not appointed Labor Secretary in 2021 that they threatened to slow-walk Biden's appointments that need Senate approval.
Currently, there are three Asian Americans on Biden's Cabinet, Vice President Kamala Harris, US Trade Representative Katherine Tai and Arati Prabhakar, director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy. However, none of those posts have the prestige, power or high-profile given to a Secretary.
Some of Su's AANHPI supporters include the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum, Asian Pacific Insitute for Congressional Studies, National Asian Pacific American Bar Association and Advancing Asian American Justice.
"If nominated and confirmed as Secretary of Labor, she would become an even greater asset to the Biden Administration and Department of Labor (DOL) at the helm," said Asian Americans Advancing Justice, where Su worked for 15 years. "Julie Su has been an indispensable leader within DOL, working in lockstep with Secretary Walsh to advance President Biden’s agenda for a more inclusive economy. Now, she is even more profoundly qualified and positioned to further deliver on labor, workforce, and employment goals set forth by the Biden Administration."
EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow @DioknoEd on Twitter.
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