Julie Su
Official portrait, 2021
Acting United States Secretary of Labor
Assumed office
March 11, 2023
PresidentJoe Biden
Preceded byMarty Walsh
37th United States Deputy Secretary of Labor
Assumed office
July 17, 2021
PresidentJoe Biden
Preceded byPatrick Pizzella
Secretary of the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency
In office
January 7, 2019 – July 17, 2021
GovernorGavin Newsom
Preceded byDavid Lanier
Succeeded byNatalie Palugyai
Personal details
Born (1969-02-19) February 19, 1969 (age 55)
Madison, Wisconsin, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
EducationStanford University (BA)
Harvard University (JD)
Julie Su
Traditional Chinese蘇維思
Simplified Chinese苏维思

Julie A. Su (born February 19, 1969)[1] is an American attorney and government official who has served as acting United States Secretary of Labor since 2023[2] and the 37th United States Deputy Secretary of Labor since 2021. Before assuming that post, Su was the California Labor Secretary, serving under Governor Gavin Newsom from 2019 to 2021,[3] and was the California Labor Commissioner, overseeing California's Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE), under Governor Jerry Brown from 2011 to 2018.[4][5]

She is serving as acting secretary of labor since March 11, 2023 following the departure of incumbent Marty Walsh from the role.[6][7] In February 2023, President Joe Biden officially nominated Su to be his permanent appointee to fill the position.[8] Since her nomination, Su's confirmation has stalled in the Senate; however, the Biden administration plans on keeping Su in an acting capacity which the Government Accountability Office (GAO) has allowed.[9]

Early life and education

Su was born in Madison, Wisconsin, as a first-generation American. Her mother, unable to afford a ticket on a passenger ship, came to the United States on a cargo ship from China; her father is from Taiwan.[10][11] She graduated from Whitney High School in Cerritos, California. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Stanford University and a Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School.[12]

Career

Su started her legal career at the Asian-Pacific American Legal Center. She was a Litigation Director for Advancing Justice L.A., a non-profit civil rights organization.

Su was the lead attorney for the El Monte Thai Garment Slavery Case.[13] As the lead for civil case brought by the El Monte garment workers, Su successfully pursued a legal theory that held manufacturers responsible for the wage theft, as well as the operators who actually kept the garment workers captive. She and other activists also petitioned for the workers to be able to stay in the United States under a visa program for those who cooperate with the government in criminal trials. This led to the creation of the T-Visa for victims of human trafficking.[14]

During Jerry Brown's tenure as governor, Su headed California's Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE) as the California Labor Commissioner.[5] Under Governor Gavin Newsom, Su served as Secretary of the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency.[3]

United States Department of Labor

Deputy Secretary of Labor

In November 2020, Su was named as a potential candidate to serve as Secretary of Labor in the Biden administration.[15][16] Su's prospective nomination was pushed by AAPI political leaders and activists, including the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC).[17]

Conversely, she was opposed by business groups and congressional Republicans. Opponents criticized her leadership of California's unemployment agency during the COVID-19 pandemic,[18] when over a million legitimate applicants had their claims delayed or frozen,[3] while up to $31 billion was sent to fraudulent claimants (including to criminals belonging to national and international crime rings and inmates in the state's prison system).[19][20] Opposition also centered on her enforcement of California's controversial employment law, AB 5.[21][22]

On February 10, 2021, Su was nominated by President Biden to be the Deputy Secretary of Labor under Secretary Marty Walsh. Asian-American leaders, including members of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, had lobbied the Biden administration to appoint her as Deputy Secretary after she wasn't chosen to lead the department.[23]

The Senate HELP Committee held hearings on Su's nomination on March 16, 2021. The committee favorably reported her nomination to the Senate floor on April 21, 2021.[24] On July 13, 2021, Su was confirmed to the role by the Senate, in a 50–47 vote.[25]

Secretary of Labor nomination

After it was reported in 2023 that Walsh would leave the role, Su was expected to serve as acting Secretary of Labor in his absence.[6][26] After Walsh's resignation announcement, members of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus called on Biden to nominate Su as Walsh's permanent successor, citing the lack of Asian-Americans in Biden's cabinet.[27] On February 28, 2023, President Joe Biden nominated Su to serve as the United States secretary of labor.[8]

Su's nomination faced challenges on both sides of the aisle, due to the reluctance of Senator Joe Manchin to support her, as well as Republican criticism of her handling of COVID unemployment relief funding in California, wherein an estimated $32 billion meant to safeguard unemployed Californians during the pandemic ended up being paid out fraudulently. She is currently waiting on confirmation from the full Senate where the confirmation process has stalled due to a lack of votes necessary for confirmation.[28][29]

Su's nomination expired at the end of 2023, though Biden renominated her in January 2024.[30] On February 27, 2024, the HELP Committee advanced Su's nomination in an 11-10 vote.[31]

Awards

Works

References

  1. ^ Wong, Kent; Monroe, Julie (2006). Sweatshop Slaves: Asian Americans in the Garment Industry. Los Angeles, California: Center for Labor Research and Education, University of California, Los Angeles. p. 85. ISBN 9780892150007.
  2. ^ LWDA, State of California, Labor and Workforce Development Agebcy. "Secretary Julie A. Su Bio". labor.ca.gov. Archived from the original on April 25, 2019. Retrieved January 26, 2019.((cite web)): CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ a b c "Editorial: California's unemployment system collapsed on Julie Su's watch". Los Angeles Times. February 11, 2021.
  4. ^ "Acting U.S. Secretary of Labor Julie A. Su".
  5. ^ a b "Asian Americans Advancing Justice - LA" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 25, 2012. Retrieved July 13, 2011.
  6. ^ a b Kashinsky, Lisa; Mueller, Eleanor; Niedzwiadek, Nick (February 7, 2023). "Marty Walsh to depart from Biden Cabinet for job atop hockey players' union". Politico. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  7. ^ "Acting Secretary of Labor Julie A. Su". U.S. Department of Labor. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  8. ^ a b "President Biden Nominates Julie Su for Secretary of the Department of Labor" (Press release). The White House. February 28, 2023. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  9. ^ Niedzwiadek, Nick (September 21, 2023). "Su prevails in GOP challenge to her status as acting Labor chief". POLITICO. Retrieved September 24, 2023.
  10. ^ Abramsky, Sasha (March 9, 2021). "Meet Julie Su, California's Fighter for Workers". ISSN 0027-8378. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
  11. ^ Murphy, Katy; Mueller, Eleanor (December 10, 2020). "California labor secretary in serious contention for Biden Cabinet". Politico PRO. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  12. ^ "Secretary: Julie A. Su | LWDA". Archived from the original on February 29, 2020. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  13. ^ "The El Monte Sweatshop Slavery Cases" (PDF). Southwestern Journal of International Law. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  14. ^ "El Monte Sweatshop: Operation, Raid, and Legacy". Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
  15. ^ "Who Are Contenders for Biden's Cabinet?". The New York Times. November 11, 2020. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  16. ^ Yglesias, Matthew (October 15, 2020). "Who would Joe Biden pick to fill his Cabinet?". Vox. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  17. ^ Chen, Shawna (December 19, 2020). "Asian American lawmakers urge Biden to name AAPI Cabinet secretary". Axios. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  18. ^ Lightman, David (March 16, 2021). "California labor secretary grilled over unemployment fraud. Some don't like her answers". The Sacramento Bee.
  19. ^ McGreevy, Patrick (January 25, 2021). "California officials say unemployment fraud now totals more than $11 billion". Los Angeles Times.
  20. ^ "CA EDD admits paying as much as $31 billion in unemployment funds to criminals". January 26, 2021.
  21. ^ Hoeven, Emily (December 4, 2020). "Inside Newsom's new regional shutdown". CalMatters. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
  22. ^ Park, Jeong (July 14, 2021). "California labor secretary overcomes unemployment complaints, will join Biden administration". The Sacramento Bee.
  23. ^ "President Biden Announces Additional Members of His Energy and Jobs Team". The White House. February 10, 2021. Retrieved March 18, 2022.
  24. ^ "PN122 — Julie A. Su — Department of Labor". U.S. Congress. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
  25. ^ "On the Nomination (Confirmation: Julie A. Su, of California, to be Deputy Secretary of Labor)". US Senate. July 13, 2021. Retrieved March 18, 2022.
  26. ^ Bose, Nandita; Shalal, Andrea; Ayyub, Rami (February 8, 2023). "Biden's Labor Secretary Walsh to depart, reportedly to head up hockey union". Reuters. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  27. ^ "Biden's about to have a Cabinet opening. Asian American lawmakers have a favorite". Politico. February 8, 2023. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  28. ^ Nichols, Hans (April 13, 2023). "Manchin's concerns have Biden's pick for Labor looking doubtful". Axios. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
  29. ^ Vazquez, Maegan (April 20, 2023). "Takeaways from Julie Su's confirmation hearing on her nomination to be the next labor secretary". CNN.
  30. ^ "Biden renominates Julie Su for labor secretary after Senate declined to confirm her for ten months". The Associated Press. January 8, 2024. Retrieved March 1, 2024.
  31. ^ Timotija, Filip (February 27, 2024). "Senate panel advances Biden's Labor secretary nominee Julie Su". The Hill. Retrieved March 1, 2024.
  32. ^ "Get Involved!- Slavery and Trafficking". Archived from the original on April 10, 2009. Retrieved April 21, 2010.
Political offices Preceded byPatrick Pizzella United States Deputy Secretary of Labor 2021–present Incumbent Preceded byMarty Walsh United States Secretary of LaborActing 2023–present
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