Boston’s Mayor Marty Walsh was nominated to become U.S. Secretary of Labor and appeared before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions on February 4, 2021.
Mayor Walsh offered in his opening testimony his lifelong experience that he attested to his parent’s immigration in the 50’s and the beginning of his family’s American Dream with his father joining the Laborers Union, Local 223 in Boston. He shared personal details of when he was a young boy and diagnosed with Burkitt’s Lymphoma, which he recovered from and ultimately followed in his father’s footsteps joining the same union. He touted his work ethics and experience in fighting for good jobs and the rights of working people. “I worked in collaboration with one Democratic governor and four Republican governors including Senator Romney, whose Administration I worked with to reform public construction,” said Mayor Walsh.
At the hearing, Senator Patty Murray, Chair of the HELP Committee, reiterated her strong support for Mayor Walsh, highlighting his long career fighting for workers and his commitment to building back an economy that works for everyone, not just those at the top. She commended Mayor Walsh’s life-long commitment to improving workers’ lives and fighting to get essential workers support during this pandemic. Walsh sailed through the nomination hearing which resulted in a vote of 18-4 by the HELP Committee.
It’s unclear when Walsh’s confirmation vote will take place with the Senate tied up with the impeachment trial of former President Trump.