U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis has announced that she will resign.
“Over her long career in public service — as an advocate for environmental justice in California, state legislator, member of Congress and Secretary of Labor — Hilda Solis has been a tireless champion for working families. Over the last four years, Secretary Solis has been a critical member of my economic team as we have worked to recover from the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression and strengthen the economy for the middle class,” President Obama said in a statement Wednesday.
“Her efforts have helped train workers for the jobs of the future, protect workers’ health and safety and put millions of Americans back to work. I am grateful to Secretary Solis for her steadfast commitment and service not only to the Administration, but on behalf of the American people. I wish her all the best in her future endeavors,” Obama said.
Solis’ resignation comes in the immediate wake of numerous scandals involving the National Labor Relations Board, which has been hampered by criticism of staunch pro-union bias and ethical violations.
The Obama administration faced a number of high-profile setbacks this year with regard to labor issues. The unsuccessful attempt, by pro-union activists, to recall Republican Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and Michigan governor Rick Snyder’s signing of his state’s right-to-work bill both caused national political embarrassment for the administration’s pro-union agenda.
Solis came to the Labor Department in 2009 after four terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, where she represented California’s 32nd Congressional District.
It is unclear at this time what Solis will pursue next in her career.