Washington, DC—Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid made the following statement today after California Rep. Hilda L. Solís was confirmed by the Senate in a 80-17 vote to be U.S. Secretary of Labor:

“I am pleased that Senate has overwhelmingly to confirmed Hilda Solís as our next Secretary of Labor.  As thousands lose their jobs every day, it is important we have a strong Secretary of Labor who puts the needs of American workers first.  And as the first Hispanic woman to serve in a President’s Cabinet, she will bring a rich perspective of America and an understanding of its labor force that will serve our country well.

“Secretary Solís’s parents worked in a factory and raised seven children on blue-collar salaries.  In her impressive tenure as a Member of the House of Representatives, Secretary Solís showed vision and leadership in raising the minimum wage, and in her advocacy for training workers for the ‘green-collar’ jobs of the 21stCentury.

“I congratulate Secretary Solís on her new mission, and I look forward to working with her to promote sound polices that grow American businesses while providing for strong labor, environmental and human-rights protections.”