Barbara Mikulski: “once again I am deeply disturbed that Alexis Herman's confirmation to be Secretary of Labor has been held up. Miss…”

“once again I am deeply disturbed that Alexis Herman's confirmation to be Secretary of Labor has been held up. Miss Herman is being subjected to a level of scrutiny that is not deserving of her nor this institution. Miss Herman is being held hostage for political reasons. What is the real reason for the delay? Well, my colleagues on the other side of the aisle say it is because of an Executive order that would encourage Federal agencies to consider the use of something called ``project labor agreements'' on any construction contract sent out for bid. How ironic that it is my colleagues that would hold up the nomination of the next Secretary of Labor because of an Executive order that asks contractors and subcontractors who bid on a Federal project to consider paying union wages, provide union-scale benefits, and use union hiring halls for labor--projects that are financed with taxpayers dollars. This order does not require the contractor to sign a collective bargaining agreement. It just makes sure that we help our workers maintain a decent wage and living standard. My Republican colleagues would hold up the nomination of the Secretary of Labor, whose responsibility it is to enforce our Nation's labor laws, because we want to ensure that contractors working on Federal projects abide by Federal laws. I want the nomination of Alexis Herman and the debate about her to focus on her qualifications and her competency to lead the Department of Labor.”