Weigel

Labor Secretary Hilda Solis Will Resign

Labor Secretary Hilda Solis speaks during a news conference on Oct. 20, 2011, in Washington

Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images.

I’m told that Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis will step aside soon, making her the fifth member of the administration to leave the Cabinet (or announce her deparature) since the election. Only two of these departures—Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta and Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner—are white and male. Lisa Jackson, who’s leaving the Environmental Protection Agency, is African-American, and Solis is the first Hispanic woman to take charge of Labor.

The White House has faced some criticism this week (a slow news week, generally) for not elevating more women to second-term positions of power. Solis’ departure will only add to that, if only because the secretary of labor was the first Cabinet position to be filled by a woman. That was Frances Perkins, appointed by FDR.

Gender politics aside, Solis faced a real fight when she was nominated in 2008. Republicans tried to scandalize her work in the labor movement and accused her of dodging questions during her confirmation hearing. They were, at that time, worried about the Obama administration pushing the Employee Free Choice Act through the Senate; they were aware that the Bush administration’s Department of Labor, run by Elaine Chao, was a model of conservative success. In the end they only mustered 17 votes against Solis, fewer than Tim Geithner got. But Republican opposition to all things Obama has only risen since then. Earlier today, at least two senators—including Jeff Sessions, ranking member on the Budget Committee—swore to oppose Jack Lew’s nomination to run Treasury, despite no trace of scandal around Lew.

UPDATE: Here’s the letter Solis is sending to staff.

Dear Colleagues:

Over the Christmas and New Year holidays with my family in California, I enjoyed my first opportunity in years to reflect on the past and my future, with an open mind and an open heart. After much discussion with family and close friends, I have decided to begin a new future, and return to the people and places I love and that have inspired and shaped my life.

This afternoon, I submitted my resignation to President Obama. Growing up in a large Mexican-American family in La Puente, California, I never imagined that I would have the opportunity to serve in a president’s Cabinet, let alone in the service of such an incredible leader.

Because President Obama took very bold action, millions of Americans are back to work.  There is still much to do, but we are well on the road to recovery, and middle class Americans know the president is on their side.  

Together we have achieved extraordinary things and I am so proud of our work on behalf of the nation’s working families. It has been more than an honor to work alongside you in fulfilling the department’s mission. Working with all of you as the nation’s 25th secretary of labor, I have come to learn that the work we do every day is indeed a labor of love.

I am humbled by the commitment of every single employee of this department – from the folks here in Washington to those who directly touch communities out in the field.  Each of you brings passion to your work, and collectively, that makes a significant difference in the lives of our nation’s working families.

We have much to be proud of.  In the past four years, more than 1.7 million people have completed federally-funded job training programs; of those, more than one million have earned industry-recognized credentials.  In addition, Labor Department investments in our community colleges have expanded their capacity to provide local, flexible, employer-specific job training to millions of Americans, and transformed these institutions into engines of economic growth.

Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, we were the steward of more than $67 billion for unemployment insurance benefits, job training and placement, and worker protection. With ingenuity and integrity we ensured that these monies were carefully targeted to maximize job creation so that working people received the help they needed and deserved.

We also played an important and active role in crafting regulatory actions to implement key aspects of the Affordable Care Act.  Our work will help make President Obama’s vision of a health care system that works for America a reality for millions of people.

We have helped businesses big and small see the value of hiring returning military service members, and have fostered innovative efforts to help women and homeless veterans.

And I am particularly proud to say that, as a result of our enforcement efforts, we have saved workers’ lives.

Calendar year 2011 saw the fewest-ever mine fatalities.  Fatalities in general industry and construction are at historic lows.

Because of our work, more people are receiving the wages they are owed.  Last year we conducted the largest number of investigations in recent memory, collecting the most back wages in our history (more than $280 million on behalf of more than 300,000 workers denied their rightful pay, overtime or leave benefits).  In these recoveries, what may seem to some as “small change” makes a huge difference for those who live paycheck-to-paycheck. In addition, our enforcement and informal resolution programs resulted in the recovery of almost $5 billion dollars for retirees and their families.

Leaving the department is one of the most difficult decisions I have ever made, because I have taken our mission to heart. As the daughter of parents who worked in factories, paid their union dues and achieved their goal of a middle class life, and as the first Latina to head a major federal agency, it has been an incredible honor to serve. 

It has been my privilege to call you colleagues and friends. Thank you for all you have done and will continue to do to make life more just and safer for workers across this country.
I am counting on you to keep up the good work. God bless you. And I will miss all of you.

Sincerely,

Hilda L. Solis
U.S. Secretary of Labor