Washington – The Democratic-led Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee on May 16 approved Thomas Perez’s nomination to become secretary of labor with a 12-10 vote along partisan lines.
The committee debated Perez’s qualifications for about 30 minutes before coming to a vote. The nomination now moves to the full Senate for consideration.
President Barack Obama nominated Perez for the Department of Labor’s top position on March 18. Perez is a former secretary of labor for Maryland and most recently served in the Department of Justice as its top civil rights attorney.
