Solis confirmed as Labor Secretary

Los Angeles Times

Excerpts from the Times

By Rebecca Cole

[Editor's Note; Dr. Ralph Pacheco served with newly confirmed U.S. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis on the Rio Hondo Community College Board of Trustees from 1987 to 1991.]

February 24, 2009

Reporting from Washington -- The Senate confirmed Rep. Hilds Solis (D-El Monte) as Labor Secretary Tuesday, more than two months after President Obama nominated her for the post.

..Her path to confirmation was cleared when Republicans ended plans to invoke a rule that would have forced a filibuster-proof 60 votes for confirmation.

Instead, the Senate held an up-or-down confirmation vote, 80 to 17 [in favor]. All Democrats supported the nominee and they were joined by 24 Republicans.

In 2000 Solis became the first woman to receive the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award for her work on California legislation for environmental protections in minority communities. The daughter of a Mexican immigrant, Solis was the first in her family to graduate from college, and she was the first Latina elected to the California State Senate in 1994.