Topline:
Asian American leaders in SoCal are joining a renewed push to confirm acting U.S. Secretary of Labor Julie Su in the waning days of the Biden administration. She would be Biden’s first and only AAPI cabinet member.
The backstory: Su, once California’s top labor official, has been the acting labor secretary under President Biden for nearly two years. But Republicans have refused to make the job permanent, seeing Su’s record as too friendly to unions and hostile to businesses.
Why now: With just about a month left in Biden’s term, time is running out to confirm Su. AAPI organizations have joined a coalition of supporters that include labor unions and Democratic leaders like Illinois senator Tammy Duckworth.
What they’re saying: A petition signed by leading AAPI leaders such as Mary Anne Foo, head of the Orange County Asian and Pacific Islander Community Alliance, said “recognizing and valuing the contributions of AAPI leaders like Julie Su would also send a strong message to the AAPI community that our government values their talent and representation.”
Su’s ties to SoCal: Nearly 30 years ago, Su represented undocumented Thai immigrants forced to work in an El Monte sweatshop. The landmark case saw her help the workers recover $4 million from the sweatshop operators and the name-brand retailers they sold to.
Go deeper: 28 Years After Being Freed From Modern-Day Slavery, El Monte Sweatshop Captives Are Honored
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