On Monday, Jan. 29, the Senate unanimously approved President George W. Bush’s nominee for secretary of labor, Elaine Chao. The nomination, which had been non-controversial since first offered, was warmly supported by Democrats and representatives of organized labor. The latter supported her because of the strong relationships she had developed with labor as head of the United Way, a job she accepted after the United Way’s near financial collapse in the early 1990s.

On Jan. 24, Chao went before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee for her confirmation hearing. The committee members gave Chao a very warm reception. They praised her for her work at the Department of Transportation, as Peace Corps director and chief executive officer of the United Way. Senators Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Jim Bunning (R-Ky.) and Chao’s husband, Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), introduced her.

In her remarks to the committee, Chao spoke of her own immigrant experience. “My nomination is for all those immigrants who come to the United States with nothing more than the bare essentials,” she said. Chao immigrated to the United States at the age of eight from Taiwan with her mother, father and older sister. “I am struck by the rich heritage of the department and of its history of worker protections. I will fully, fairly and evenly enforce the labor laws,” she said. Chao also noted that the current skill shortage among America’s workers is the most serious labor problem we face. She indicated that she would support continued efforts to educate America’s workforce through the Workforce Investment Act and other programs.

Senators asked her to seriously examine the important issues that are confronting American workers. Sen. Christopher Dodd (D-Conn.) urged Chao to support substantial increases in workforce development funding. Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) urged her to make no changes to the ergonomics standard issued by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration late last year.

Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) urged the department to look closely at the effects of globalization on workers rights and pensions. Sen. James Frist (R-Tenn.) urged support for a patient’s bill of rights that returns medical decisions to doctors.

Sen. James Jeffords (R-Vt.), committee chair, urged Chao to work hard to address the skill shortages that currently confront American businesses.