Senate Confirms Jocelyn Samuels to the EEOC and Seema Nanda as DOL Solicitor
Senate votes to confirm Jocelyn Samuels by a vote of 52-47
Senate votes to confirm Seema Nanda by a vote of 53-46
Senator Murray: “Workers are the backbone of our economy. That means, every one of us should be fighting for them, and voting to confirm Commissioner Samuels and Ms. Nanda who will fight for them as well.”
***WATCH SENATOR MURRAY’S FULL REMARKS HERE***
(Washington, D.C.) – Today, the Senate confirmed the nominations of Jocelyn Samuels to serve as Commissioner of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) by a vote of 52-47, and Seema Nanda to serve as Solicitor for the Department of Labor (DOL) by a vote of 53-46. In remarks on the Senate floor, Senator Patty Murray, Chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), reiterated her strong support for Ms. Samuels and Ms. Nanda’s nominations, highlighting their long track records as champions for workers.
“Workers are the backbone of our economy,” said Senator Murray during her floor remarks. “That means, every one of us should be fighting for them, and voting to confirm Commissioner Samuels and Ms. Nanda who will fight for them as well.”
In her remarks, Senator Murray underscored Ms. Samuels’ years of experience with the federal government, including as a Commissioner for the EEOC, where she has fought to address discrimination and ensure that every worker receives fair treatment. Additionally, Senator Murray highlighted Ms. Nanda’s years of service in the Department of Labor—where she served as Deputy Chief of Staff, Deputy Solicitor of Labor, and Chief of Staff—and her record fighting to defend immigrant workers from discrimination, and working to hold employers accountable for unfair hiring practices.
Senator Murray’s full remarks, as prepared for delivery, are below:
“Thank you M. President.
“I was proud to vote to confirm Jocelyn Samuels to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission last year—when she was confirmed in a bipartisan vote—and am proud to do so again.
“The EEOC has a critical role to play in protecting workers’ rights and addressing inequities in our economy which disproportionately disadvantage, women, people of color, people with disabilities, and more.
“For example, it is responsible for enforcing discrimination and harassment laws, and works to address the gender pay gap.
“Workers need a champion at the EEOC fighting for them—and Ms. Samuels has proven over her nearly two decades of experience with the federal government, and her recent service as a Commissioner of the EEOC she is that champion.
“From pushing to pass the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act as Vice President of Education and Employment at the National Women’s Law Center, to leading civil rights efforts at the Department of Justice and Department of Health and Human Services, to working as a staffer on the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee and a Senior Attorney at the EEOC, she has spent her career working to address discrimination and ensure no one is treated unfairly because of their age, sex, including sexual orientation and gender identity, race, religion, or disability.
“I was pleased to see her nomination advance out of the HELP Committee with bipartisan support, and hope to see similar bipartisan support for her final confirmation.
“M. President I’d also like to urge my colleagues to join me in voting to confirm Seema Nanda as Solicitor for the Department of Labor—another nominee who was advanced from the HELP Committee in a bipartisan vote.
“Ms. Nanda has served in the Department of Labor previously as Deputy Chief of Staff, Deputy Solicitor of Labor, and Chief of Staff.
“And she previously served as a career attorney in the Department of Justice, where she fought to defend immigrant workers from discrimination, and held employers accountable for unfair hiring practices.
“She has proven herself to be an excellent choice for this important role.
“We take some hard votes in this chamber—these shouldn’t be among of them.
“Workers are the backbone of our economy. That means, every one of us should be fighting for them, and voting to confirm Commissioner Samuels and Ms. Nanda who will fight for them as well.
“Thank you.”
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