The Senate confirmed Julie Su as deputy secretary of labor Tuesday in a 50-47 vote.
Ms. Su, most recently the secretary of the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency, will help Labor Secretary Marty Walsh, who was confirmed in March, lead the department through a pivotal time, as the nation continues its pandemic response.
"It is clear that workers need a deputy secretary of labor who is committed to building back a stronger, fairer economy, someone who will work diligently to make sure workers have a fairer and just workplace, a livable wage, a secure retirement, safe working conditions, access to accommodations and are treated with dignity and respect, which is why I'm so glad to support Julie Su's nomination," said Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., chairwoman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, prior to Tuesday's vote.
Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, also spoke in support of Ms. Su's nomination prior to the vote, but no senators spoke against it, despite the close vote total.
The Senate HELP Committee approved her nomination in a 13-9 vote in April. At her nomination hearing before the same committee in March, retirement issues weren't a focus, but Ms. Su did welcome the passage of the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan, which took place in March and included a provision creating a federal assistance program for struggling multiemployer pension funds.
