The Senate Labor Committee voted Tuesday to as soon as once more advance Julie Su’s nomination to steer the Labor Division, although it doesn’t seem that something has modified since her bid for the job languished final yr amid fierce GOP opposition and a handful of Democratic holdouts.
Su, who was beforehand California’s labor chief, was nominated by President Biden a yr in the past and has served as appearing secretary since March. Three undecided Democrats plus Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.) held up a full Senate affirmation, which wanted near-unanimous help from Senate Democrats to cross.
With no last flooring vote, Su’s nomination was returned to the White Home on the finish of final yr.
Committee members voted Tuesday alongside celebration strains, with 11 Democrats supporting development of Su’s nomination and 10 Republicans voting in opposition to it.
The markup was visibly tense as Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) rejected committee member Sen. Invoice Cassidy’s (R-La.) request to make an announcement for the report.
Cassidy, the rating Republican, interrupted anyway, telling reporters within the room: “This individual has been appearing secretary for a yr, though she would have been rejected on the ground and we’re not having one other listening to.”
Republicans have described Su’s insurance policies as pro-union and anti-business. They took specific subject with Meeting Invoice 5, the California legislation that requires corporations to categorise most staff as workers as a substitute of as unbiased contractors. Su didn’t draft the invoice however offered some technical help on the finish of the method.
Democrats mentioned she’s extremely certified for the job and has made groundbreaking advances in staff’ rights protections. They are saying Su, a progressive Californian, has been caught up within the political divisiveness of Washington.
The Well being, Training, Labor and Pensions Committee initially voted to advance Su’s nomination to Labor secretary in April.
Sanders mentioned he strongly helps Su’s renomination.
“She has been a wonderful Deputy Secretary of Labor, a wonderful Appearing Secretary of Labor, and I imagine that she is going to make a wonderful Secretary of Labor,” Sanders wrote in an announcement. “Her robust pro-worker monitor report and tireless dedication to working households throughout this nation reveals past a shadow of a doubt that she is the best individual for the job. I urge my colleagues to help her nomination.”
Earlier this month, Cassidy urged Sanders to maintain a brand new nomination listening to earlier than scheduling one other vote.
Cassidy took subject with what he known as her “troubling report” as appearing Labor secretary, together with the division’s last rule that establishes pointers for classifying staff as workers or unbiased contractors; a proposed rule to broaden extra time pay eligibility; and a proposed rule permitting union leaders to take part in office inspections.
“It has been virtually a yr since Mrs. Su’s nomination listening to. It’s essential that we look at the numerous points which have arisen since then and get a proof of these critical considerations,” Cassidy mentioned throughout a Senate flooring speech Monday evening, criticizing Sanders’ resolution to not maintain one other public listening to. “Nobody is above accountability, particularly an unconfirmed but appearing Cupboard-level nominee with huge affect over our nation’s financial system.”
A backlog of instances on the Labor Division final yr precipitated irritating months-long delays for employers and immigrants looking for to acquire H-2B visas for seasonal nonagricultural jobs. Cassidy blamed Su for mismanaging the company.
He additionally pointed to New York Instances reporting that federal officers repeatedly ignored warnings that migrant kids had been more and more working in slaughterhouses, factories and on roofs, in violation of kid labor legal guidelines.
The Labor Division responded that its inspectors had discovered 1000’s of violations, and Su mentioned the administration was “leaving no stone unturned to root out exploitative youngster labor.”
The Labor Division’s unbiased watchdog launched an audit in August of how officers responded to the surge in youngster labor violations.
Enterprise curiosity teams together with the Nationwide Federation of Impartial Enterprise issued statements forward of Tuesday’s vote opposing her nomination, saying her coverage modifications have created burdensome guidelines for enterprise homeowners.
In the meantime, labor unions, immigrant advocates and employee teams praised her for modernizing unemployment insurance coverage and enhancing entry to good-paying jobs by workforce improvement packages.
After Biden took workplace, the Senate voted alongside celebration strains to verify Su as deputy Labor secretary. Earlier than that, she spent seven years main California’s Division of Labor Requirements Enforcement.
In 2021, the California Employment Growth Division reported $20 billion in fraudulent unemployment claims. Su’s supporters mentioned she inherited many points when she took over the division and famous that employment fraud rose throughout the nation through the COVID-19 pandemic.
With Su’s nomination out of committee, her supporters may restart efforts to persuade Democratic holdouts to convey her affirmation to the Senate flooring for a full vote.
