U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, delivered remarks on July 16 during the confirmation hearing for Keith Sonderling’s nomination as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor.
Cassidy welcomed Sonderling and acknowledged his current role as Acting Secretary at the Department of Labor and his leadership in sub-agencies overseeing labor law enforcement. Cassidy said that Sonderling’s background in labor and employment policy makes him qualified for the position. He also noted that Sonderling was previously confirmed by the Senate as Deputy Secretary of Labor last year.
“When President Trump nominated Mr. Sonderling as EEOC commissioner in 2020, the Senate confirmed him with bipartisan support,” Cassidy said. “As commissioner, Mr. Sonderling worked in a non-partisan manner to address illegal workplace discrimination and enforce laws as Congress intended.”
Cassidy discussed several initiatives led by Sonderling at the Department of Labor, including developing independent contractor policies and clarifying joint employer standards to protect franchise models employing millions of Americans. He highlighted ongoing changes in workforce technology and said he is confident that Sonderling would help workers navigate artificial intelligence-driven changes if confirmed as Secretary.
“The apprenticeship model offers a solution,” Cassidy said regarding workforce development challenges, but added that “the current system is too burdensome” due to inconsistent state laws. He mentioned introducing the START Act with Senator Banks to simplify apprenticeship registration processes for employers.
Cassidy also addressed retirement security issues under Sonderling’s leadership: “Americans who are saving for retirement should have access to the same variety of lucrative investments as other investors.” He praised efforts against unemployment insurance fraud: “Lax controls on unemployment insurance systems place money in the hands of criminals instead of Americans trying to find a job.”
The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee works on public health, education policy, workforce issues and retirement programs while providing oversight over federal agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and National Institutes of Health (NIH), according to the official website.
Cassidy concluded by thanking Sonderling for appearing before the committee: “I look forward to hearing more about how you plan to protect workers and create economic growth nationwide.”