President Obama and Secretary of Labor nominee Hilda Solis

The Senate H.E.L.P committee once again delayed a vote Thursday on Obama’s pick for secretary of labor.

As unemployment rates soar across the country and the promise of job creation looms in the federal recovery package, many have criticized the delay in confirming the nomination of California Democrat Hilda Solis. In the words of The Los Angeles Times, Solis’s nomination has been “in limbo” since January 9.

A New York Times Editorial blog from Jan. 28 (“Hilda! Hilda! Hilda!”) says, “If there was ever a time the nation needed a strong secretary of labor, this is it.”

According to a recent AP story (“Rising Unemployment Spares No State in December”), more than half a million newly laid off Americans have recently filed for state unemployment benefits, while the number who continue to draw benefits has risen to nearly 5 million.

Meanwhile, according to the Los Angeles Times (“Republicans want Labor nominee to stop lobbying for ‘card check’ bill“), GOP Senators delayed Solis’s confirmation by raising question because of her presumed support of the Employee Free Choice Act, which allows employees to form bargaining units by filling out a card as opposed to voting in an election by secret ballot.  Solis co-sponsored this legislation in 2007. The Times says, “Business and labor are on opposite sides of the issue, and both are preparing aggressive campaigns as the bill . . . comes before Congress.”

McKnight’s reports that long-term care providers are concerned that Congress will pursue the card-check bill (“Obama Issues Pro-union orders“).

Raised in East Los Angeles as the daughter of immigrant union members, Solis has pledged to strengthen the country’s diverse workforce and its unions. In her appointment acceptance speech, she said she shares Obama’s belief in an America where anything is possible for people who work hard. She was the first Latina appointed to the Committee on Energy and Commerce and served on the Health and Telecommunications Subcommittees.

Once put to work at last, the new secretary of labor will play a key role in fulfilling the incoming president’s pledge to create three million new jobs and stimulate the economic recovery of low-income communities.

“It will be up to the Department of Labor to ensure that funds allocated in the stimulus package are used for worker training and retraining,” said PHI National Policy Director Steve Edelstein. “Of particular concern to our stakeholders are those earmarked for the health care workers who take care of America’s elders and people with disabilities.”