LOS ANGELES - The National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) issued the following statement regarding President-elect Obama’s nomination of United States Representative Hilda L. Solis to serve as Secretary of Labor:

“The National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO), the nation’s preeminent Latino leadership organization, commends President-elect Obama for his nomination of United States Representative Hilda L. Solis to serve as Secretary of Labor.  If confirmed by the Senate, Secretary-designate Solis would manage a Cabinet-level department with over 17,000 employees and an annual budget exceeding $59 billion dollars.  The U.S. Department of Labor is responsible for occupational safety, wage and hour standards, unemployment insurance benefits, re-employment services, and some economic statistics.” 

“If confirmed by the Senate, Secretary-designate Solis would make American history by becoming the first Latina, and the first Hispanic of Central American heritage, to serve as a senior appointed officer of one of the fifteen executive-level departments.  Her nomination demonstrates the tremendous leadership role that Latino leaders are ready to offer our nation.  Over the course of her career, Representative Solis has demonstrated a commitment to public service.  Serving in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2001, Representative Solis began her career in public service working at The White House Office of Hispanic Affairs and later as a management analyst in the Civil Rights Division of the Office of Management and Budget during the Carter Administration.”

“In Congress, Representative Solis is the first Latina to serve on the powerful House Committee on Energy and Commerce, where she is Vice Chair of the Environment and Hazardous Materials (EHM) Subcommittee and a member of the Health and Telecommunications Subcommittees.  On the world stage, Representative Solis was appointed to the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe in 2007, as well as the Mexico-United States Interparliamentary Group.  In June 2007, she was elected Vice Chair of the Helsinki Commission’s General Committee on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions.  She is the only U.S. elected official to serve on this committee.” 

“Representative Solis graduated from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, and earned a Master of Public Administration from the University of Southern California.  Throughout her political career, Representative Solis has demonstrated an active leadership with NALEO to not only ensure the issues impacting Latinos are addressed, but also to support the organization’s efforts to advance the political progress of Latinos throughout the country.”