"American Dream" US Nominates First Asian American as New Labor Secretary

U.S. President Joe Biden officially nominated Chinese-American Deputy Secretary Julie Su as the successor to Labor Secretary Marty Walsh on the 1st (local time), introducing her as the "American Dream."

According to AP News and others, President Biden introduced nominee Su as the next Labor Secretary at a White House event that day, stating, "She is doing her best to ensure that every American can reach the 'American Dream' just like she did." He defined Su, the daughter of immigrants and of Chinese descent, as a representative figure of the American Dream.

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

President Biden said, "She has done much more, including raising the minimum wage, protecting trafficking victims, and establishing and enforcing workplace safety standards," and urged, "I ask the Senate to move quickly so we can build an economy that works for everyone."

If nominee Su is confirmed by the Senate, she will become the first Asian American cabinet member in the Biden administration. The U.S. Senate currently has a Democratic majority, including Democratic-leaning independents, so the confirmation is expected to proceed smoothly.

On the same day, nominee Su emphasized, "I believe in America's changing power," and said, "To all the workers who work hard in the shadows, know that we see you, stand with you, and will fight alongside you."

Su, a civil rights attorney and former California Labor Secretary, was reported by major foreign media to have been at the center of railroad union negotiations late last year. At 54 years old, she was appointed Deputy Secretary of Labor in July 2021, the first year of the Biden administration.

Meanwhile, former Secretary Walsh has been nominated as the head of the National Hockey League Players' Association (NHLPA) and will begin his term in mid-next month.