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{{Short description|American lawyer (born 1969)}}
'''Julie A. Su''' is a litigation director at the Asian Pacific American Legal Center of Southern California (APALC). <ref>http://www.msmagazine.com/dec99/womenverge1.asp</ref><ref>http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-2354245.html</ref>
{{Other uses}}
She is a co-founder of Sweatshop Watch.<ref>http://laanenetwork.laane.org/laane/newsletter/0605/content/JulieSu.html</ref><ref>http://americanhistory.si.edu/sweatshops/dialogue/5t4.htm</ref>
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Julie Su
| native_name = {{small|{{no bold|蘇維思}}}}
| image = Julie Su Portrait.jpg
| caption = Official portrait, 2021
| office = [[United States Secretary of Labor]]
| status = Acting
| president = [[Joe Biden]]
| term_start = March 11, 2023
| term_end = <!-- January 20, 2025 -->
| predecessor = [[Marty Walsh]]
| successor = <!-- [[Lori Chavez-DeRemer]] (nominee) -->
| office1 = 37th [[United States Deputy Secretary of Labor]]
| president1 = Joe Biden
| term_start1 = July 17, 2021
| term_end1 = <!-- January 20, 2025 -->
| predecessor1 = [[Patrick Pizzella]]
| successor1 = <!-- TBD -->
| office2 = Secretary of the [[California Labor and Workforce Development Agency]]
| governor2 = [[Gavin Newsom]]
| term_start2 = January 7, 2019
| term_end2 = July 17, 2021
| predecessor2 = David Lanier
| successor2 = Natalie Palugyai
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1969|2|19}}
| birth_place = [[Madison, Wisconsin]], U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| education = [[Stanford University]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])<br />[[Harvard University]] ([[Juris Doctor|JD]])
}}
{{Infobox Chinese
| t = 蘇維思
| s = 苏维思
| p = Sū Wéisī
| w = Su<sup>4</sup> Wei<sup>2</sup>-ssu<sup>1</sup>
| myr = Sū Wéisz
| mi = {{IPAc-cmn|s|u|1|-|wei|2|.|s|i|1}}
}}

'''Julie A. Su''' ([[Traditional Chinese characters|Chinese]]: 蘇維思; born February 19, 1969)<ref>{{cite book |first1=Kent|last1=Wong |first2=Julie|last2=Monroe |author-link= |date=2006 |title=Sweatshop Slaves: Asian Americans in the Garment Industry |url=https://archive.org/details/sweatshopslavesa0000unse |location=Los Angeles, California |publisher=Center for Labor Research and Education, [[University of California, Los Angeles]] |page=85 |isbn=9780892150007}}</ref> is an American attorney and government official who is serving as acting [[United States Secretary of Labor]] since 2023<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://labor.ca.gov/Secretary_Julie_Su_Bio.htm|title=Secretary Julie A. Su Bio|last=LWDA|first=State of California, Labor and Workforce Development Agebcy|website=labor.ca.gov|language=en|access-date=January 26, 2019|archive-date=April 25, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190425052034/http://www.labor.ca.gov/Secretary_Julie_Su_Bio.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> and the 37th [[United States Deputy Secretary of Labor]] since 2021. Before assuming that post, Su was the California Labor Secretary, serving under Governor [[Gavin Newsom]] from 2019 to 2021,<ref name="lat">{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2021-02-11/editorial-julie-su-and-californias-unemployment-insurance-meltdown?_amp=true|title = Editorial: California's unemployment system collapsed on Julie Su's watch|website = [[Los Angeles Times]]|date = February 11, 2021}}</ref> and was the California Labor Commissioner, overseeing California's Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE), under Governor [[Jerry Brown]] from 2011 to 2018.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.dol.gov/agencies/osec | title=Acting U.S. Secretary of Labor Julie A. Su }}</ref><ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=http://www.apalc.org/pressreleases/2011/JulieSuAppointment.pdf|title=Asian Americans Advancing Justice - LA|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325222559/http://www.apalc.org/pressreleases/2011/JulieSuAppointment.pdf|archive-date=March 25, 2012|url-status=dead|access-date=July 13, 2011}}</ref>

She is serving as acting [[United States Secretary of Labor|secretary of labor]] since March 11, 2023, following the departure of incumbent [[Marty Walsh]] from the role.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last1=Kashinsky |first1=Lisa |last2=Mueller |first2=Eleanor |last3=Niedzwiadek |first3=Nick |date=February 7, 2023 |title=Marty Walsh to depart from Biden Cabinet for job atop hockey players' union |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2023/02/07/marty-walsh-to-depart-from-biden-cabinet-for-job-atop-hockey-players-union-00081567 |access-date=February 8, 2023 |website=[[Politico]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Acting Secretary of Labor Julie A. Su |url=https://www.dol.gov/agencies/osec |access-date=March 20, 2023 |website=U.S. Department of Labor |language=en}}</ref> In February 2023, President [[Joe Biden]] officially nominated Su to be his permanent appointee to fill the position.<ref name="Nom-2-28-23">{{Cite press release |date=February 28, 2023 |title=President Biden Nominates Julie Su for Secretary of the Department of Labor |url=https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/02/28/president-biden-nominates-julie-su-for-secretary-of-the-department-of-labor/ |access-date=February 28, 2023 |publisher=[[The White House]]}}</ref> Since her nomination, Su's confirmation has stalled in the [[United States Senate|Senate]]; however, the Biden administration plans on keeping Su in an acting capacity which the [[Government Accountability Office|Government Accountability Office (GAO)]] has allowed.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Niedzwiadek |first=Nick |date=2023-09-21 |title=Su prevails in GOP challenge to her status as acting Labor chief |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2023/09/21/julie-su-gop-challenge-acting-labor-chief-00117431 |access-date=2023-09-24 |website=POLITICO |language=en}}</ref>

==Early life and education==
Su was born in [[Madison, Wisconsin]], as a second-generation American. Her mother, unable to afford a ticket on a passenger ship, came to the United States on a cargo ship from [[China]]; her father is from [[Taiwan]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Abramsky |first=Sasha |date=2021-03-09 |title=Meet Julie Su, California's Fighter for Workers |language=en-US |url=https://www.thenation.com/article/society/labor-su-biden-workers/ |access-date=2023-03-03 |issn=0027-8378}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last1=Murphy|first1=Katy|last2=Mueller|first2=Eleanor|title=California labor secretary in serious contention for Biden Cabinet|url=https://politi.co/344powp|access-date=February 18, 2021|website=Politico PRO|date=December 10, 2020 |language=en}}</ref> She graduated from [[Whitney High School (Cerritos, California)|Whitney High School]] in Cerritos, California. She earned a [[Bachelor of Arts]] degree from [[Stanford University]] in 1991, double majoring in political science and economics.<ref>{{Cite web |last=School |first=Stanford Law |date=2018-10-26 |title=Stanford Law School Honors Julie Su and David Owens with Public Service Awards |url=https://law.stanford.edu/press/stanford-law-school-honors-julie-su-and-david-owens-with-public-service-awards/ |access-date=2024-05-11 |website=Stanford Law School |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Schmidt |first=Bob |date=Sep 16, 2011 |title=Newsmaker {{!}} Julie Su |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/print-edition/2011/09/16/newsmaker-julie-su.html |access-date=2024-11-17 |website=www.bizjournals.com}}</ref> She later earned a [[Juris Doctor]] from [[Harvard Law School]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Secretary: Julie A. Su {{!}} LWDA|url=https://www.labor.ca.gov/about/secretary/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200229053247/https://www.labor.ca.gov/about/secretary/|archive-date=February 29, 2020|access-date=November 30, 2020|language=en}}</ref>

== Career ==
Su started her legal career at the [[Asian Pacific American Legal Center]] (later known as Advancing Justice Los Angeles), a non-profit civil rights organization, where she served as a Litigation Director.

Su was the lead attorney for the [[El Monte Thai garment slavery case]].<ref>{{cite web |title=The El Monte Sweatshop Slavery Cases |url=https://www.swlaw.edu/sites/default/files/2017-04/SWT115.pdf |publisher=Southwestern Journal of International Law |access-date=January 13, 2022}}</ref> As the lead for civil case brought by the El Monte garment workers, Su successfully pursued a legal theory that held manufacturers responsible for the wage theft, as well as the operators who actually kept the garment workers captive. She and other activists also petitioned for the workers to be able to stay in the United States under a visa program for those who cooperate with the government in criminal trials. This led to the creation of the [[T visa]] for victims of [[human trafficking]].<ref>{{cite web |title=El Monte Sweatshop: Operation, Raid, and Legacy |url=https://www.si.edu/spotlight/el-monte-sweatshop/legacy |website=Smithsonian Institution |access-date=January 21, 2022}}</ref>

During [[Jerry Brown]]'s tenure as governor, Su headed California's Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE) as the California Labor Commissioner.<ref name=":0" /> Under Governor [[Gavin Newsom]], Su served as Secretary of the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency.<ref name="lat" />

== United States Department of Labor ==
=== Deputy Secretary of Labor ===
In November 2020, Su was named as a potential candidate to serve as [[United States Secretary of Labor|Secretary of Labor]] in the [[Biden administration]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Who Are Contenders for Biden's Cabinet? |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/11/us/politics/biden-cabinet.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage |access-date=November 11, 2020 |work=The New York Times |date=November 11, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Yglesias|first=Matthew|date=October 15, 2020|title=Who would Joe Biden pick to fill his Cabinet?|url=https://www.vox.com/21514180/biden-cabinet-secretary-of-state-defense|access-date=October 15, 2020|website=Vox|language=en}}</ref> Su's prospective nomination was pushed by [[Asian Pacific Americans|AAPI]] political leaders and activists, including the [[Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus]] (CAPAC).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chen |first=Shawna |date=December 19, 2020 |title=Asian American lawmakers urge Biden to name AAPI Cabinet secretary |url=https://www.axios.com/2020/12/19/biden-cabinet-labor-secretary-aapi-julie-su |access-date=February 8, 2023 |website=[[Axios (website)|Axios]] |language=en}}</ref>

Conversely, she was opposed by business groups and congressional Republicans. Opponents criticized her leadership of California's unemployment agency during the [[COVID-19 pandemic in California|COVID-19 pandemic]],<ref>{{cite news|title=California labor secretary grilled over unemployment fraud. Some don't like her answers|first=David|last=Lightman|date=March 16, 2021|url=https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/article249981069.html#storylink=cpyhttps://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/article249981069.html|newspaper=[[The Sacramento Bee]]}}</ref> when over a million legitimate applicants had their claims delayed or frozen,<ref name="lat" /> while up to $31 billion was sent to fraudulent claimants (including to criminals belonging to national and international crime rings and inmates in the state's prison system).<ref>{{Cite web|first=Patrick|last=McGreevy|url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-01-25/california-unemployment-fraud-11-billion-investigations|title = California officials say unemployment fraud now totals more than $11 billion|website = [[Los Angeles Times]]|date = January 25, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://abc7news.com/california-edd-unemployment-fraud-ca-scam-insurance/10011810/|title = CA EDD admits paying as much as $31 billion in unemployment funds to criminals|date = January 26, 2021|website=ABC7 News}}</ref> Opposition also centered on her enforcement of California's controversial employment law, [[California Assembly Bill 5 (2019)|AB 5]].<ref>{{Cite news|date=December 4, 2020|title=Inside Newsom's new regional shutdown|url=https://calmatters.org/newsletters/whatmatters/2020/12/inside-newsoms-regional-shutdown/|access-date=December 8, 2020|website=CalMatters|language=en-US|last1=Hoeven|first1=Emily}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|first=Jeong|last=Park|url=https://amp.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article252758483.html|title = California labor secretary overcomes unemployment complaints, will join Biden administration| newspaper=[[The Sacramento Bee]]|date=July 14, 2021 }}</ref>

On February 10, 2021, Su was nominated by President Biden to be the [[United States Deputy Secretary of Labor|Deputy Secretary of Labor]] under Secretary [[Marty Walsh]]. [[Asian Americans|Asian-American]] leaders, including members of the [[Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus]], had lobbied the Biden administration to appoint her as Deputy Secretary after she wasn't chosen to lead the department.<ref>{{cite web |title=President Biden Announces Additional Members of His Energy and Jobs Team |url=https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/02/10/president-biden-announces-additional-members-of-his-energy-and-jobs-team/ |website=The White House |date=February 10, 2021 |access-date=March 18, 2022}}</ref>

The [[Senate HELP Committee]] held hearings on Su's nomination on March 16, 2021. The committee favorably reported her nomination to the Senate floor on April 21, 2021.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.congress.gov/nomination/117th-congress/122 |title=PN122 — Julie A. Su — Department of Labor |website=U.S. Congress |access-date=February 14, 2021}}</ref> On July 13, 2021, Su was confirmed to the role by the Senate, in a 50–47 vote.<ref>{{cite web |title=On the Nomination (Confirmation: Julie A. Su, of California, to be Deputy Secretary of Labor) |url=https://www.congress.gov/nomination/117th-congress/122?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22su%22%2C%22su%22%5D%7D&s=6&r=1 |website=US Senate | date=July 13, 2021 |access-date=March 18, 2022}}</ref>

=== Secretary of Labor nomination ===
[[File:Secretary of Labor Julie Su listens to White House Director of Public Engagement Steve Benjamin 2024 (53803299340).jpg|thumb|Su with Senior Advisor to the President [[Stephen K. Benjamin]] in 2024]]
After it was reported in 2023 that Walsh would leave the role, Su was expected to serve as acting [[United States Secretary of Labor|Secretary of Labor]] in his absence.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Bose |first1=Nandita |last2=Shalal |first2=Andrea |last3=Ayyub |first3=Rami |date=February 8, 2023 |title=Biden's Labor Secretary Walsh to depart, reportedly to head up hockey union |language=en |work=[[Reuters]] |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-labor-secretary-walsh-step-down-source-2023-02-07/ |access-date=February 8, 2023}}</ref> After Walsh's resignation announcement, members of the [[Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus]] called on Biden to nominate Su as Walsh's permanent successor, citing the lack of Asian-Americans in [[Cabinet of Joe Biden|Biden's cabinet]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2023/02/08/julie-su-aapi-cabinet-secretary-labor-00081874|title=Biden's about to have a Cabinet opening. Asian American lawmakers have a favorite.|publisher=Politico|accessdate=February 8, 2023|date=February 8, 2023}}</ref> On February 28, 2023, President [[Joe Biden]] nominated Su to serve as the United States secretary of labor.<ref name="Nom-2-28-23" />

Su's nomination faced challenges on both sides of the aisle, due to the reluctance of Senator [[Joe Manchin]] to support her, as well as Republican criticism of her handling of COVID unemployment relief funding in California, wherein an estimated $32 billion meant to safeguard unemployed Californians during the pandemic ended up being paid out fraudulently. She is also facing criticism for attempting to use her position as Acting Secretary of Labor to forgive $29 billion of the federal Covid loans California received prior to the fraud. She is currently waiting on confirmation from the full Senate where the confirmation process has stalled due to a lack of votes necessary for confirmation.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nichols |first=Hans |date=April 13, 2023 |title=Manchin's concerns have Biden's pick for Labor looking doubtful |url=https://www.axios.com/2023/04/13/biden-julie-su-labor-manchin |access-date=2023-04-13 |website=Axios |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |first=Maegan |last=Vazquez |date=April 20, 2023 |title=Takeaways from Julie Su's confirmation hearing on her nomination to be the next labor secretary |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/04/20/politics/labor-secretary-confirmation-hearing-takeaways/index.html |website=[[CNN]] |language=en}}</ref>

Su's nomination expired at the end of 2023, though Biden renominated her in January 2024.<ref>{{cite news |work=[[The Associated Press]] |access-date=March 1, 2024 |url=https://apnews.com/article/biden-julie-su-renominates-nomination-e2e0a2729f0f77887fad263b855470fb |date=January 8, 2024 |title=Biden renominates Julie Su for labor secretary after Senate declined to confirm her for ten months}}</ref> On February 27, 2024, the [[HELP Committee]] advanced Su's nomination in an 11-10 vote.<ref>{{cite news |work=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]] |author=Timotija, Filip |date=February 27, 2024 |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/4492673-senate-panel-advances-bidens-labor-secretary-nomination-julie-su/ |access-date=March 1, 2024 |title=Senate panel advances Biden's Labor secretary nominee Julie Su}}</ref>


==Awards==
==Awards==
* 2001 [[MacArthur Fellows Program]]
*[[Skadden Fellowship]]
*2001 [[MacArthur Fellows Program]]
*1996 [[Reebok Human Rights Award|Reebok International Human Rights Award]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.reebok.com/enwiki/static/global/initiatives/rights/text-only/get_involved/popup/slavery_and_trafficking.html |title=Get Involved!- Slavery and Trafficking |access-date=April 21, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090410033605/http://www.reebok.com/enwiki/static/global/initiatives/rights/text-only/get_involved/popup/slavery_and_trafficking.html |archive-date=April 10, 2009 }}</ref>
* Reebok International Human Rights Award

==Works==
*"Making the Invisible Visible: The Garment Industry's Dirty Laundry" ''University of Iowa Journal on Gender, Race & Justice'' (winter 1997–1998)
* "Critical Coalitions," (with [[Eric Yamamoto]]) ''Critical Race Theory: An Anthology''
* "Workers at the Crossfire: Immigration Enforcement to Preserve Capital," in ''Unfinished Liberation'' (Joy James, ed. Colorado University Press 1999)
* ''Social Justice: Professionals, Communities and Law'' (Martha Mahoney, John O. Calmore, Stephanie M. Wildman 2003).


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


{{s-start}}
==External links==
{{s-off}}
*[http://www.apalc.org/pdffiles/beauty%20salon%20case.pdf "BEAUTY SALON SUED"], ''APALC'', January 24, 2006
{{s-bef|before=[[Patrick Pizzella]]}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Su, Julie A}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[United States Deputy Secretary of Labor]]|years=2021–present<!-- 2025 -->}}
{{s-inc|rows=2}}<!-- {{s-aft|after=TBD}} -->
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Marty Walsh]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[United States Secretary of Labor]]<br>{{small|Acting}}|years=2023–present<!-- 2025 -->}}
<!-- {{s-aft|after=[[Lori Chavez-DeRemer]]<br>Designate}} -->
{{s-end}}


{{Navboxes
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Su, Julie A}}
[[Category:1969 births]]
[[Category:American politicians of Taiwanese descent]]
[[Category:American politicians of Chinese descent]]
[[Category:21st-century American women lawyers]]
[[Category:21st-century American lawyers]]
[[Category:American people of Taiwanese descent]]
[[Category:Biden administration cabinet members]]
[[Category:California lawyers]]
[[Category:Harvard Law School alumni]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Year of birth unknown]]
[[Category:MacArthur Fellows]]
[[Category:Members of the Cabinet of the United States of Chinese descent]]
[[Category:Stanford University alumni]]
[[Category:State cabinet secretaries of California]]
[[Category:United States deputy secretaries of labor]]
[[Category:United States secretaries of labor]]
[[Category:Wisconsin lawyers]]
[[Category:Women members of the Cabinet of the United States]]

Latest revision as of 14:44, 14 December 2024

For other uses, see Julie Su (disambiguation).

Julie Su
蘇維思
Official portrait, 2021
United States Secretary of Labor
Acting
Assumed office
March 11, 2023
PresidentJoe Biden
Preceded byMarty Walsh
37th United States Deputy Secretary of Labor
Incumbent
Assumed office
July 17, 2021
PresidentJoe Biden
Preceded byPatrick Pizzella
Secretary of the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency
In office
January 7, 2019 – July 17, 2021
GovernorGavin Newsom
Preceded byDavid Lanier
Succeeded byNatalie Palugyai
Personal details
Born (1969-02-19) February 19, 1969 (age 55)
Madison, Wisconsin, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
EducationStanford University (BA)
Harvard University (JD)
Julie Su
Traditional Chinese蘇維思
Simplified Chinese苏维思
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinSū Wéisī
Wade–GilesSu4 Wei2-ssu1
Yale RomanizationSū Wéisz
IPA[sú wěɪ.sí]

Julie A. Su (Chinese: 蘇維思; born February 19, 1969)[1] is an American attorney and government official who is serving as acting United States Secretary of Labor since 2023[2] and the 37th United States Deputy Secretary of Labor since 2021. Before assuming that post, Su was the California Labor Secretary, serving under Governor Gavin Newsom from 2019 to 2021,[3] and was the California Labor Commissioner, overseeing California's Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE), under Governor Jerry Brown from 2011 to 2018.[4][5]

She is serving as acting secretary of labor since March 11, 2023, following the departure of incumbent Marty Walsh from the role.[6][7] In February 2023, President Joe Biden officially nominated Su to be his permanent appointee to fill the position.[8] Since her nomination, Su's confirmation has stalled in the Senate; however, the Biden administration plans on keeping Su in an acting capacity which the Government Accountability Office (GAO) has allowed.[9]

Early life and education

[edit]

Su was born in Madison, Wisconsin, as a second-generation American. Her mother, unable to afford a ticket on a passenger ship, came to the United States on a cargo ship from China; her father is from Taiwan.[10][11] She graduated from Whitney High School in Cerritos, California. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Stanford University in 1991, double majoring in political science and economics.[12][13] She later earned a Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School.[14]

Career

[edit]

Su started her legal career at the Asian Pacific American Legal Center (later known as Advancing Justice Los Angeles), a non-profit civil rights organization, where she served as a Litigation Director.

Su was the lead attorney for the El Monte Thai garment slavery case.[15] As the lead for civil case brought by the El Monte garment workers, Su successfully pursued a legal theory that held manufacturers responsible for the wage theft, as well as the operators who actually kept the garment workers captive. She and other activists also petitioned for the workers to be able to stay in the United States under a visa program for those who cooperate with the government in criminal trials. This led to the creation of the T visa for victims of human trafficking.[16]

During Jerry Brown's tenure as governor, Su headed California's Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE) as the California Labor Commissioner.[5] Under Governor Gavin Newsom, Su served as Secretary of the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency.[3]

United States Department of Labor

[edit]

Deputy Secretary of Labor

[edit]

In November 2020, Su was named as a potential candidate to serve as Secretary of Labor in the Biden administration.[17][18] Su's prospective nomination was pushed by AAPI political leaders and activists, including the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC).[19]

Conversely, she was opposed by business groups and congressional Republicans. Opponents criticized her leadership of California's unemployment agency during the COVID-19 pandemic,[20] when over a million legitimate applicants had their claims delayed or frozen,[3] while up to $31 billion was sent to fraudulent claimants (including to criminals belonging to national and international crime rings and inmates in the state's prison system).[21][22] Opposition also centered on her enforcement of California's controversial employment law, AB 5.[23][24]

On February 10, 2021, Su was nominated by President Biden to be the Deputy Secretary of Labor under Secretary Marty Walsh. Asian-American leaders, including members of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, had lobbied the Biden administration to appoint her as Deputy Secretary after she wasn't chosen to lead the department.[25]

The Senate HELP Committee held hearings on Su's nomination on March 16, 2021. The committee favorably reported her nomination to the Senate floor on April 21, 2021.[26] On July 13, 2021, Su was confirmed to the role by the Senate, in a 50–47 vote.[27]

Secretary of Labor nomination

[edit]
Su with Senior Advisor to the President Stephen K. Benjamin in 2024

After it was reported in 2023 that Walsh would leave the role, Su was expected to serve as acting Secretary of Labor in his absence.[6][28] After Walsh's resignation announcement, members of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus called on Biden to nominate Su as Walsh's permanent successor, citing the lack of Asian-Americans in Biden's cabinet.[29] On February 28, 2023, President Joe Biden nominated Su to serve as the United States secretary of labor.[8]

Su's nomination faced challenges on both sides of the aisle, due to the reluctance of Senator Joe Manchin to support her, as well as Republican criticism of her handling of COVID unemployment relief funding in California, wherein an estimated $32 billion meant to safeguard unemployed Californians during the pandemic ended up being paid out fraudulently. She is also facing criticism for attempting to use her position as Acting Secretary of Labor to forgive $29 billion of the federal Covid loans California received prior to the fraud. She is currently waiting on confirmation from the full Senate where the confirmation process has stalled due to a lack of votes necessary for confirmation.[30][31]

Su's nomination expired at the end of 2023, though Biden renominated her in January 2024.[32] On February 27, 2024, the HELP Committee advanced Su's nomination in an 11-10 vote.[33]

Awards

[edit]

Works

[edit]
  • "Making the Invisible Visible: The Garment Industry's Dirty Laundry" University of Iowa Journal on Gender, Race & Justice (winter 1997–1998)
  • "Critical Coalitions," (with Eric Yamamoto) Critical Race Theory: An Anthology
  • "Workers at the Crossfire: Immigration Enforcement to Preserve Capital," in Unfinished Liberation (Joy James, ed. Colorado University Press 1999)
  • Social Justice: Professionals, Communities and Law (Martha Mahoney, John O. Calmore, Stephanie M. Wildman 2003).

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Wong, Kent; Monroe, Julie (2006). Sweatshop Slaves: Asian Americans in the Garment Industry. Los Angeles, California: Center for Labor Research and Education, University of California, Los Angeles. p. 85. ISBN 9780892150007.
  2. ^ LWDA, State of California, Labor and Workforce Development Agebcy. "Secretary Julie A. Su Bio". labor.ca.gov. Archived from the original on April 25, 2019. Retrieved January 26, 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ a b c "Editorial: California's unemployment system collapsed on Julie Su's watch". Los Angeles Times. February 11, 2021.
  4. ^ "Acting U.S. Secretary of Labor Julie A. Su".
  5. ^ a b "Asian Americans Advancing Justice - LA" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 25, 2012. Retrieved July 13, 2011.
  6. ^ a b Kashinsky, Lisa; Mueller, Eleanor; Niedzwiadek, Nick (February 7, 2023). "Marty Walsh to depart from Biden Cabinet for job atop hockey players' union". Politico. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  7. ^ "Acting Secretary of Labor Julie A. Su". U.S. Department of Labor. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  8. ^ a b "President Biden Nominates Julie Su for Secretary of the Department of Labor" (Press release). The White House. February 28, 2023. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  9. ^ Niedzwiadek, Nick (September 21, 2023). "Su prevails in GOP challenge to her status as acting Labor chief". POLITICO. Retrieved September 24, 2023.
  10. ^ Abramsky, Sasha (March 9, 2021). "Meet Julie Su, California's Fighter for Workers". ISSN 0027-8378. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
  11. ^ Murphy, Katy; Mueller, Eleanor (December 10, 2020). "California labor secretary in serious contention for Biden Cabinet". Politico PRO. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
  12. ^ School, Stanford Law (October 26, 2018). "Stanford Law School Honors Julie Su and David Owens with Public Service Awards". Stanford Law School. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
  13. ^ Schmidt, Bob (September 16, 2011). "Newsmaker | Julie Su". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  14. ^ "Secretary: Julie A. Su | LWDA". Archived from the original on February 29, 2020. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  15. ^ "The El Monte Sweatshop Slavery Cases" (PDF). Southwestern Journal of International Law. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  16. ^ "El Monte Sweatshop: Operation, Raid, and Legacy". Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
  17. ^ "Who Are Contenders for Biden's Cabinet?". The New York Times. November 11, 2020. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  18. ^ Yglesias, Matthew (October 15, 2020). "Who would Joe Biden pick to fill his Cabinet?". Vox. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  19. ^ Chen, Shawna (December 19, 2020). "Asian American lawmakers urge Biden to name AAPI Cabinet secretary". Axios. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  20. ^ Lightman, David (March 16, 2021). "California labor secretary grilled over unemployment fraud. Some don't like her answers". The Sacramento Bee.
  21. ^ McGreevy, Patrick (January 25, 2021). "California officials say unemployment fraud now totals more than $11 billion". Los Angeles Times.
  22. ^ "CA EDD admits paying as much as $31 billion in unemployment funds to criminals". ABC7 News. January 26, 2021.
  23. ^ Hoeven, Emily (December 4, 2020). "Inside Newsom's new regional shutdown". CalMatters. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
  24. ^ Park, Jeong (July 14, 2021). "California labor secretary overcomes unemployment complaints, will join Biden administration". The Sacramento Bee.
  25. ^ "President Biden Announces Additional Members of His Energy and Jobs Team". The White House. February 10, 2021. Retrieved March 18, 2022.
  26. ^ "PN122 — Julie A. Su — Department of Labor". U.S. Congress. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
  27. ^ "On the Nomination (Confirmation: Julie A. Su, of California, to be Deputy Secretary of Labor)". US Senate. July 13, 2021. Retrieved March 18, 2022.
  28. ^ Bose, Nandita; Shalal, Andrea; Ayyub, Rami (February 8, 2023). "Biden's Labor Secretary Walsh to depart, reportedly to head up hockey union". Reuters. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  29. ^ "Biden's about to have a Cabinet opening. Asian American lawmakers have a favorite". Politico. February 8, 2023. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  30. ^ Nichols, Hans (April 13, 2023). "Manchin's concerns have Biden's pick for Labor looking doubtful". Axios. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
  31. ^ Vazquez, Maegan (April 20, 2023). "Takeaways from Julie Su's confirmation hearing on her nomination to be the next labor secretary". CNN.
  32. ^ "Biden renominates Julie Su for labor secretary after Senate declined to confirm her for ten months". The Associated Press. January 8, 2024. Retrieved March 1, 2024.
  33. ^ Timotija, Filip (February 27, 2024). "Senate panel advances Biden's Labor secretary nominee Julie Su". The Hill. Retrieved March 1, 2024.
  34. ^ "Get Involved!- Slavery and Trafficking". Archived from the original on April 10, 2009. Retrieved April 21, 2010.
Political offices
Preceded by United States Deputy Secretary of Labor
2021–present 		Incumbent
Preceded by United States Secretary of Labor
Acting
2023–present
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