Perez is Sworn in as 26th Secretary of Labor

Vice President Joe Biden administered the oath of office to Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez during a ceremony on September 4th.  Mr. Perez, who was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on July 18, is the 26th secretary of labor. Vice President Biden remarked he is "the embodiment" of the American Dream, who has devoted his life to providing others with an opportunity to succeed. Mr. Perez spoke of mentors and encounters that shaped his life, including the belief that "you can make it if you try." He called for closing "the skills gap" by investing in the nation's workforce, ensuring a safe and level playing field for workers, reforming the immigration system, and increasing the minimum wage