born october american politician member previously served 25th united_states secretary labor administration president barack_obama member democratic_party served united_states house_of_representatives representing 31st 32nd congressional districts california include raised california immigrant parents nicaragua mexico gained degrees worked federal agencies washington native state elected hispanic woman serve reelected sought pass environmental justice legislation female recipient courage award defeated long time democratic incumbent getting elected focused mainly labor causes environmental work reelected easily subsequent terms december president elect barack_obama announced intention nominate secretary labor took office confirmed united_states senate february hispanic woman serve focused workplace safety issues strengthening compliance wage hour laws january stepped post labor secretary returning area upbringing april formally announced campaign seat non partisan won seat outright june election sworn december early life education born los_angeles california daughter immigrant parents met citizenship class married nicaragua mexico father shop steward mexico coming united_states worked battery recycling plant san valley organized gain better health care benefits workers contracted lead poisoning mother worked years assembly line children school age belonged outspoken working conditions stressed importance education devout roman catholic oldest seven siblings sisters brothers grew tract home california help raise youngest siblings later said childhood wasn american life young girl growing mature quickly graduated saw lack support wishing continue education including guidance counselor told mother daughter college material maybe follow career older sister secretary counselor encourage attend college went house help fill application took younger sisters library follow lead family college accepted assists low income generation college students paying help government grants time jobs graduated bachelor_of_arts political science earned master public administration degree early career served near end carter administration editor chief newsletter washington semester master program start reagan administration management analyst civil rights division dislike ronald_reagan policies motivated leave later year washington met subsequently married owns automobile repair center california couple lives modest house california far grew returning california director help youth gain necessary preparation college particular worked friends urged try office ran college district campaigned hard overtook incumbent better established candidate reelected time board worked improved job training college sought increase number faculty positions held minorities women joined california chambers commerce women organizations latino organizations gained added political visibility named insurance supervisor political mentor served chief staff state senator opportunity run california incumbent district shifted district new representative retired june democratic primary fill open seat opponents endorsement powerful state incumbent support representative effort focused door door campaigning featured mother making campaign volunteers came way democratic race receiving percent vote nearest competitor future received percent general election garnered percent vote republican percent gained election assembly seven won election assembly wake collectively known los liberal diverse group term prominent debate illegal immigration united_states backing bill allow immigrants united_states illegally attend california colleges long residing state backed labor opposed tobacco industry supporting bill banned smoking served committees dealing education labor environmental issues including new committee dealt contamination known strong democratic incumbent 24th state senate district gave office received democratic nomination statewide office commissioner ran seat won democratic primary percent vote opponents won general election percent vote republican percent hispanic woman serve woman represent senate youngest member time reelected percent vote authored bills prevent domestic violence championed labor education health care issues described big believer government right lot improve quality people lives sponsored bill raise minimum wage strongly opposed business organizations restaurant industry governor vetoed organized successful drive issue ballot initiative year campaign funds rallying union support initiative passing garnered statewide reputation states followed similar initiatives chaired labor committee established loyal labor interests point establishing relationships republicans committee held high profile hearings labor law enforcement following summer raid discovered thai workers existing slave like conditions called manufacturers explain pushed tougher enforcement anti laws republican state senator later said committed liberal pockets labor republican state senate leader said obviously didn eye eye respectful credit hard worker knew stuff environmental activist concerns stemmed childhood spent distance making frequent visits worked pass environmental justice legislation law protect low income minority communities newly located pollution sources environmental hazards neighborhoods sites got bill approved strong opposition business interests water contractors state government agencies wilson vetoed returned weakened measure signed governor calling fair treatment people races cultures respect development adoption implementation enforcement environmental laws represented legislation kind nation considered landmark faced controversy legislation lowered restrictions occupants took effect january quickly resulted greatly increased volume protests bus riders prior defended change continued detrimental effect improve flow regular traffic lanes legislation change restore higher occupancy requirement passed took effect july work overcoming obstacles environmental justice given profile courage award praised politician hasn away challenging old boy network latino community woman win award gained appearances george people magazines today chair said going national star term limits prevented seeking reelection months decided run year incumbent 31st congressional district consisted largely working class action criticized members congress supported conservative constituents supported opposed gun control supported specific abortion procedures criticized lacking effort district able obtain support called warrior working families emily help margin hundreds volunteers working defeated incumbent march democratic primary percent percent margin primary night called accused advertising subsequently switched republican_party urged vote great effect republican opponent general election beat little known parties won percent vote arriving house_of_representatives named freshman class whip making responsible collecting votes term democrats magazine named watch said election sign things come california changing guard commissioned new office painting united_states capitol forget roots washington apartment tiny known work environmental issues member global warming promotion green collar jobs priority sponsored southern_california portion create wilderness areas sponsored legislation funded national_park_service study designate large left obama administration recommended proceeding greatly reduced version original proposal advocates disappointment said positive step congress expand area legislation undertook member education championed employee free choice act member congress board pro union organization strongly supports act served treasurer starting trade voted central_america trade agreement trade agreement expressed opposition trade agreement citing concerns human rights violations opposed legislation job safety requirements received percent ratings pro labor groups years major recipient union political donations founder role models tenure house advocate comprehensive immigration reform leading opponents house bill sponsored wisconsin congressman voted supported legislation aimed reducing number teen african american communities sponsored bill law granted citizenship immigrants year military service instead previous years roman catholic pro choice catholic members congress sent letter cardinal washington order dissuade refusing pro choice legislative voting signed statement principles stating commitment faith disagreement roman_catholic_church issues stated issues abortion rights decided follow conscience instead church teachings member rated lifetime liberal percent americans lifetime percent rating wrote blog entries huffington_post believed importance house member continued relationships established coming political figures district including california state mayor census subsequent area california 32nd congressional district reelected additional terms large margins twice republican opposition ran unopposed chaired health falling female representatives leader arguing lack respect afforded women members denied previously broken ties caucus political action committee campaign contributions sons responded kiss speaker remark later apologized considered close ally helped seat considered running position vice chairman deferred incumbent chose run caucus chair running aggressive fundraising gained vice chair position time selection obama cabinet elected 2nd vice chair considered potential candidate leadership position house strong supporter presidential bid fell short barack_obama aggressively sought support strengthening appeal hispanic voters supported clinton effort establish sponsor house bill create wealthy political career husband main assets consisted retirement funds auto shop valued secretary labor december sources close obama transition team identified president elect choice secretary labor cabinet position filled selection earned praise labor organizations received business groups anti union group official announcement obama december successor chosen special election california 32nd congressional district declined endorse candidate primary past emerged eventually won general election confirmation hearings held january labor committee chair repeatedly praised despite examination republican members declined discuss specific policy issues including employee free choice act days later senate republicans said try procedural hold nomination answer questions detail hearings january secret hold placed nomination anonymous republican series written questions responses republican members followed forthcoming republican pressed unpaid high level positions constituted prohibited lobbying activity denied violation rules conduct stated helped lobbying acknowledge failed report positions annual house financial disclosure forms time white_house spokesperson argued oversight february obama appointed veteran official acting secretary prolonged process considered republican aides preview future battles labor issues obama administration republicans congress vote committee confirmation set february postponed news husband paid outstanding state local tax dating auto repair business filed separate tax return intended contest business taxes believed paid white_house spokesperson stated mistakes husband revelations came wake obama nominations troubled tax issues committee republicans subsequently indicated blame concerned ties february committee approved nomination voice vote votes opposed delays republicans agreed subject nomination february confirmed senate vote resigned house sworn new position evening ceremonial swearing featuring vice president later held march hispanic woman serve regular cabinet secretary cabinet secretary central american descent hispanic secretary labor felt george bush administration department lacking power actions reflected pro business agenda accordingly hoped days secretary affirmed extension unemployment benefits specified obama package joined vice president middle class task force major speech secretary pleased community forum attendees miami aggressive enforcement workplace protection laws saying rest assured new sheriff town late march vowed add investigators department wage hour division report showed division enforcement wage laws inadequate completed end year late suspended immigrant guest worker regulations related adopted final days bush administration earned july expressed concern workplace deaths said especially vulnerable continuing attention issues tenure lead hispanic workers considering champion october levied largest fine history failing fix safety problems following disaster business groups complained cooperative relationship departed bush administration compliance assistance approach said compliance assistance important new strategy agenda enact ninety new rules regulations intended grant power unions workers try revive clinton administration rules discarded early days bush administration business groups continued oppose unclear wake april upper big branch disaster west_virginia worst years announced conduct internal review enforcement prior accident requested provide independent analysis review end tenure safety experts said fallen short getting meaningful new regulatory scheme place wake disaster later month department hosted meeting labor ministers discussed accelerate job creation respective countries faced local representing employees unhappy longstanding program reduced george bush administration restored department said program modern fair ongoing contract negotiations local year saw department trying crack firms illegally use summer free labor constitute unpaid academic brought resistance universities year additionally saw leading administration campaign farmers employed children workers proposed new rules area dropped following adamant criticism conservatives agricultural groups february protests continued wisconsin governor proposal limit state public employee unions collective rights similar proposals states spoke strongly emotionally moves saying governors aren asking workers belts demanding uniquely american rights workers overall obama administration speak moves october defended work current population survey puts monthly reported unemployment united_states fallen percent time obama took office critics including general_electric ceo charged number order benefit obama month presidential election said insulted hear professional civil service organization work calculations best trained best skilled individuals working hear kind statement year set record pay collected wage violations million going workers workplace fatalities construction general industrial sectors reached time low january resignation secretary labor cabinet members deciding stay obama second term day office january inner circle presidential advisors said difficult decision obama praised work secretary reflecting tenure generally garnered praise labor unions leading democrats enforcement job safety regulations aggressive pursuit wage hour leaders analysts labor field thought performance secretary minimal public visibility memorable legacy left agreed operated difficult political environment effects great recession felt republicans opposed labor based initiatives obama administration focused business groups continued characterize having dealings departure linked interest running seat incumbent term limited said wanted rest local community years washington spend time year old mother later january confirmed interest race saying going look explaining representative cabinet member interested county level body analysts stated board powerful county level legislative body united_states exercises executive quasi judicial powers controls workforce larger billion budget equivalent average state member presiding million constituents times old congressional district possibly fourth powerful position california politics governor senator mayor los_angeles long nicknamed little kings november scholar residence alma mater duties include guest classes students assisting curriculum development focus political science early reports emerged fbi begun investigating possible violations fundraising rules federal officials time labor secretary allegations subordinates funds election campaign president obama spokesperson said believed wrong matter looked chair representative said evidence supporting allegations early word emerged investigations april formally announced start campaign seat election held june time raised effort considered favorite win contest news federal investigation little effect campaign won seat june garnering percent vote opponents margin meant won seat outright need run runoff election supervisor district forefront response lead contamination issue affected communities touched past concerns environmental justice allocated county money cleanup saying state continues drag feet going state capitol asking additional funds remedy situation said gone long february praised governor finally increasing state funds cleanup saying voices heard long seen americas affluent neighborhoods immediate help relief america poor working class families suffer today announcement governor americas areas responsible downtown los_angeles said main priority dealing lack affordable housing new job said fascinating people work county like budget billion december took position rotated yearly basis said priority commitment diverse county family family family inclusive everybody matter background matter come matter far scale
Hilda Solis