U.S. Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Senator:
The 3.1 million members of the National Education Association teach and support students in public schools and on public college campuses, assisting them in realizing their potential and preparing them for meaningful careers. Our members also include public-service workers in other fields, many of whom have been on the front lines throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. We enthusiastically support President Biden’s choice for Deputy Secretary of Labor, Julie A. Su, a nationally renowned labor policy expert, and we urge you to vote yes on her nomination. Votes on this issue may be included in NEA’s Report Card for the 117th Congress.
Su, as secretary of the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency, leads an entity responsible for securing fair labor and workplace conditions for workers and businesses. During the pandemic, she has addressed delivery of unemployment insurance benefits, ensured workplace health and safety, and helped support small business and their workers. Su is also co-leading the Governor’s Future of Work Commission, which seeks to make recommendations regarding the jobs Californians could have in coming decades; the impact of technology on work and workers; methods of promoting better job quality, wages, and working conditions; and other critical issues.
Su’s life story is representative of the stories of many American families, and underscores that America is a nation of immigrants. Her parents, who came to the United States from China, owned a small laundromat and Su grew up translating for them. That gave her a deep understanding of the immigrant experience and inspired her to dedicate her career to ensuring that the most vulnerable workers are protected, and that businesses adhering to workplace standards do not face unfair competition from those that do not.
As labor secretary in California—our nation’s largest economy, and the fifth largest economy in the world—Su has the depth of experience that would bring vital perspective to the U.S. Department of Labor. We urge you to vote YES on her nomination.
Sincerely,
Marc Egan
Director of Government Relations
National Education Association
