Solis' Opening Remarks

Senate Confirmation Hearing

REP. HILDA SOLIS (D-CALIF.): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And I, too, am delighted that you could preside over this particular hearing today.

Ranking Member Senator Enzi, who we had a great discussion the other day, thank you and also all the other distinguished members of the committee.

I believe I had a chance to speak with just about everyone with -- with the exception of Senator Alexander, but I'm sure we will take time after this -- this meeting and hopefully get a chance to talk and discuss what your concerns are.

Some I want to thank all of you. I am deeply honored and grateful that President-elect Obama has selected me to serve as his designee for secretary of labor.

If confirmed, I'm eager to serve the American people and lead the Department of Labor to improve the opportunities for hard-working families.

My vision of the Department of Labor is rooted in who I am. My father, as you know, worked hard as the Teamsters shop steward in a battery recycling plant for more than 20 years. His membership in the union helped my family have health and other benefits, even when times were tough. My mother immigrated from Central America, Nicaragua. She was a stay-at-home mom for most of the time that I was a child. But, like anything else, she later went to work at a toy factory to help make ends meet and became a member of the United Rubber Workers.