White House Correspondents Insider

Behind the scenes of the most powerful city in the world — Washington, D.C. — and those who cover it.

  • Home
  • About
  • 30th Anniversary Garden Brunch
  • Washington Insider
  • Archives
  • Contact

Obama Nominated Thomas Perez for Secretary of Labor

March 18, 2013 By WHC Insider

Earlier today President Barack Obama announced Thomas Perez as his nomination for secretary of labor. Perez currently serves in the Civil Rights devision of the Department of Justice and would be following up in the role that Hilda Solis left in January.

“Like so many Americans, Tom knows what it’s like to climb the ladder of opportunity. He is the son of Dominican immigrants. He helped pay his way through college as a garbage collector and working at a warehouse. He went on to become the first lawyer in his family. So his story reminds us of this country’s promise, that if you’re willing to work hard, it doesn’t matter who you are, where you come from, what your last name is — you can make it if you try,” said President Obama. The remarks were delievered earlier today from the East Room in the White House. Per the White House Pool report attendees including Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley, NAACP President Richard Trumka, Al Sharpton, Valerie Jarrett, Gene Sperling and Executive Director of Labor Council for Latin American Advancement Hector Sanchez.
New York Times did the round-up of labor leaders, including the Teamsters’ own Jimmy Hoffa Jr. and AFL-CIO, and their opinions of Perez.

“And Tom has made protecting that promise — for everybody — the cause of his life. As a civil rights attorney, an aide to Senator Ted Kennedy, a member of the Montgomery, Maryland County Council, Tom fought for a level playing field where hard work and responsibility are rewarded and working families can get ahead,” said Obama. “Now, while he’s tackled plenty of tough issues, Tom has also spent a career as a consensus-builder. He’s worked with CEOs, he’s worked with labor leaders. He’s worked at federal, state, and local government levels. And throughout, he understands that our economy works best when the middle class and those working to get into the middle class have the security they need on the job, a democratic voice in the workplace, everybody playing by the same set of rules.”

There is no current date set for Perez’ Senate hearings or any opposition, so far, to his nomination. Perez gave selected remarks after Obama’s praise, summing it up like so:

“As you well know, our nation still faces critical economic challenges, and the Department’s mission is as important as ever. I am confident that together with our partners in organized labor, the business community, grassroots communities, Republicans, Democrats, and independents alike, we can keep making progress for all working families.”

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on LinkedinShare on Pinterest

Filed Under: DC, The White House, Washington Tagged With: Department of Labor, Hilda Solis, Secretary of Labor, Thomas Perez, White House

Search WHCInsider

2023 WHC Garden Brunch

About White House Correspondents Insider

Exploring “behind the scenes” of the most powerful city in the world — Washington, D.C. — and those who cover it.

We track the White House Correspondents’ weekend and all the activities around it, from journalists and media companies to the White House and politicos.

Tammy Haddad is Co-Founder and Editor-In-Chief of WHC Insider and CEO of Haddad Media.

White House Correspondents Insider is not affiliated with or approved by the White House Correspondents’ Association, which is a registered trademark of the WHCA.

Cone of Silence Podcast

WHCA Seating Chart

Connect

  • YouTube
  • Flickr
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Apple
  • Google

Instagram

Yesterday @BlueStarFamilies officially kicked off the #DoYourPart campaign on Capitol Hill. BSF CEO @rothdouquet & @craignewmark joined @RepDonBacon, @RepHoulahan, @TimKaine, Michael Collins from @Starbucks & Heidi Andersen from @NextDoor for a briefing moderated by @jonkarl to launch the national campaign to address the quality-of-life challenges undermining our nation’s military members & their families.
CNN celebrates Dana Bash and her 30 years of reporting. The new host of Inside Politics was feted by democrats, republicans and media competitors in Washington DC.
The Birthday and Coronation of HM King Charles III reception at the British Embassy in DC
@themessenger @jimlaporta Important investigation of US Marines drinking contaminated water
Guests chat in front of Micron’s Wall of Memory at the CBS News WHCD after party. #CBSNewsAfterParty @we_are_micron
Megan Klink, Nikki Braden, Vinoda Basnayake, Lisa Vanderpump, Peyton Doyle and Jimmy Murrill at the #GardenBrunch
Sean Walsh, Lisa Vanderpump, and Daniel Lippman toasting the 30th Anniversary #GardenBrunch 🥂
The #GardenBrunch, Liev Schreiber and Amb. Oksana Markarova salute the work of Kathy Roth-Douquet and Blue Star Families, with special thanks to Craig Newmark
CNBC’s Andrew Ross Sorkin, WME’s Henry Reisch and CNN’s Abby Phillip at the #GardenBrunch
#GardenBrunch guests Tinx, Brooke Hammerling, Kara Swisher, Amanda Katz, Phil Rucker and Josh Humphries
Retired Navy Corpsman and Bronze Star for Valor recipient Dr. Rich Jadic and Army Delta Force member Bo White, both of whom helped save Fox News reporter Benjamin Hall when he was wounded in Ukraine, Fox News Chief National Security Correspondent Jennifer Griffin and Save our Allies co-founder Sarah Verardo attend the 30th Anniversary White House Correspondents' Garden Brunch.
Joe Berchtold, Evan Ryan, Maria Teresa Kumar, Rosario Dawson, Raj Kumar and Hilary Rosen at the #GardenBrunch

Copyright © White House Correspondents Insider