Now, the confirmation hearing for labor secretary nominee Alexander Acosta. He takes questions from the Senate Health education and pensions committee. Nearly three hours. [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. Visit ncicap. Org] which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. Visit ncicap. Org] [no audio] Senate Committee on Public Health and education will please come to order. Senate committee on Public Health and education will please come to order. Were holding a meeting on mr. Acosta for secretary of labor. We will have an Opening Statement and then introduce the witness. Then introduce the witness. After our witness testimony, senators will each have two five minute rounds of questions. Just ten years ago in 2007, steve jobs announced that apple had reinvented the mobile phone, just 10 years ago. A microblogging Company Named twitter gained its own separate platform and started to scale globally and amazon released something called kendall all that in 2007 ten years ago the same time ibm began to build a computer called watson that in a few years defeated contestants on the jeopardy tv show and then sequencing in genomes started falling from 100 million in 2001 to 1,0 1,000 in 2015 and a new k New York Times columnist tom friedman puts his finger on the year, 2007, just 10 years ago, as quote the technological Inflection Point and uses the term great acceleration for all the technological changes simultaneously across the globe and argues were living through one of the great Inflection Points in history as a result of. Added that ball states findings that automation is responsible for the loss of 88 of manufacturing jobs and globalization add that. Social cultural and climate changes in terrorism you get a big mismatch between the pace and average ability of the American Worker to keep up and fit into the accelerating forces shaping the workplace. A few weeks ago a group of senators sat around in a forum and listened to very smart scientists talk about their advances in artificial intelligence. After it was all over, one senator asked where are we all going to work . Tom friedman says probably the most important governance challenges the need to develop learning systems, training systems, management systems, social safety net and government regulations to enable citizens to get the most out of these accelerations and cushion their worst impacts end quote. One of the federal governments chief actors in this drama of acceleration should be the secretary of labor. In fact, as many have suggested and the house of representatives have done the title for which alexandria acosta has Alexander Acosta was nominated should be secretary of the workforce. It is down to 7 . The issue not whether they belong to a nonion, whether they have the skills to adapt to a changing marketplace and find and keep a job. To be accurate, to create and keep a job. Nitrogenrati my generation found jobs, this generation likely has to create their own jobs. In his inaugural address, President Trump said he heard from forgotten men and women to fit into the changing world. President obama said he heard the same voices too many in inner cities and Rural Counties left behind, he said. What can we do about it . Most important thing, work with employers and colleges and Community Institutes and improve the ways those earning two year degrees or more. Georgetown University Says by 202065 of the jobs in this country will require some college or more. At the rate were going, georgetown predicts the United States will lack 5 million workers with an adequate Postsecondary Education by 2020. Unfortunately too many of the federal governments actions over the last few years have made it harder for American Work others to keep up, adjust and create and find and keep a job. To begin with the Obama Administration unleashed a regulatory avalanche that held jobs back. President obama issued 130 more rules than the previous administrations Labor Department, average of 85 major rules with more than 1 100 million impact on the economy compared with president bushs 62 a year. Take the overtime rule. In my state its cost would add hundreds of dollars per student in College Tuition and force Small Businesses to reduce the jobs that provides stability families need or joint employer rule and attack on franchising or fishedry rule that makes it finiudishry rule. One at a time mandates on job creat creators. The equal Employment Opportunity commission eeo1 forms providing employers to provide to the government 20 times as much information on how they pay workers. Theres the ridiculous complex fas sa i know the dean is well aware of, the federal aid Application Form that turns away from college many of the people who ought to be going and Affordable Care act that defined full time work only 30 hours, forcing employers to reduce their workers hours or reduce hiring all together. Many like the persuader rule that chills the ability of employers during organizing activities seem destined for labor unions. Were fortunate today to have labor nominee for undersecretary to understands a good job is critical to help workers realize the American Dream for theirselves and their families. Senator rubio and cruz will introduce him in detail so i will not. I do want to recognize after immigrating from miami to cuba, mr. Acostas parents worked hard to create opportunities for their sony the first person in his family to go to college and assistant attorney general for the Justice Department, u. S. Attorney. Dean of international floridas law school. His schools president describes him as conscientious, thoug thoughtful, says he doesnt overreach and hes already been confirmed three times by the United States senate. Mr. Acosta, we welcome you today and i look forward to hearing more on your ideas about how to help American Workers adjust to the changing conditions in our workforce. Senator murray. Thank you very much, chairman alexander. Mr. Acosta, thank you for being here and to you and your family for your willingness to serve. The department of labor is at the heart of one of President Trumps Core Campaign promises which was to put workers first. D. O. L. Pry ortises the best interests of our work force enforces laws that protect workers rights, safety and livelihoods and seeks to expand Economic Opportunity to more workers and families across our country. I would hope any president would share those basic goals but especially one whose made so many promises about fighting for workers. I was very surprised when President Trump selected an due pastner, a fastfood worker for secretary of labor. We heard story after story from people who worked at his restaurants about lost wages and mistreatment. I was deeply concerned as secretary of labor his history of offensive comments and Marketing Campaigns would signal its acceptable to objectify and marginalize women in the workplace. He was uniquely unqualified for this role and im frankly relieved he wont have the opportunity to serve in it. Just because President Trumps first selection for secretary of labor was so deeply unacceptable that doesnt mean we should lower our standards because workers and families across the country certainly are not. They made very clear they want a secretary of labor who will stand up for the core mission of the department and fight for their interests, someone who will be an advocate within this administration for workers if President Trump continues down the path of breaking promise after promise to those he said he would help. With this in mind, mr. Acosta, i have serious concerns about your nomination i want to ask about today and in written followup questions. Firsty the Trump Administration has alreadycemented reputation for flouting ethic rules and attempting to exert political pressure over federal employees. I expect our next secretary of labor to be someone who can withstand inappropriate political pressure and prioritize workers in the mission of the Labor Department over hypothetically speaking mr. Trump trumps, associations or mr. Bannons frightening ideology. A history of your review sugg t suggests when you led the Civil Rights Division at the department of justice you at best ignored an extraordinary polarization of the work and at worst actively facilitated. A formal investigation by the Inspector General showed under your tenure, higher in the Civil Rights Division systematically favored conservative applicants over those who appeared to be more liberal regardless of their professional qualifications. As assistant attorney general you chose to stay silent on a proposed texas redistricting plan instead of allowing political appointees to allow longtime appointees who believe it discriminated against black and latino voters. And late the District Court determined it did violate the act. You later sent a jim crow challenger law four days before the 2004 president ial election although the Justice Department had no role in that lawsuit. By the end of your time at the Civil Rights Division, prosecutions for crimes related to gender and Racial Discrimination had declined by 40 . All together these actions suggest a pattern of allowing political pressure to influence your Decision Making on issues that should rise above partisanship. To me, this raises questions about your commitment to defend the civil rights of all workers which, of course, is fundamental to the role of secretary of labor. Mr. Acosta, im also very interested hearing more from you about your vision for this department and specifically where you stand on a number of key issues. It will be heavily engaged in over the coming years. President trump has spoken out against the updated overtime rule, which would help millions of workers get pay they earned. Our federal minimum wage has fallen far far behind workers needs. Women still make less than their male counterparts, an economic drain on our country that is especially pronounced for women of color. That President Trumps wrongheaded cruel immigration executive order is causing undocumented workers not to come forward for back wages and protections they are owed. I feel strongly we need to ensure undocumented workers are safe and receive fair treatment, especially in this time of heightened fear and uncertainty. These are all challenges i expect the secretary of labor to be committed to working on, and ill be very interested in your thinking and plans on each because, again, the secretary must be an independent voice for workers who will push back on the president s agenda to hurt working families. Dol also plays a pivotal role in making certain there are consequences when Companies Dis criminate or threaten employees safety on the job. It supports job training and the development of new Career Pathways for unemployed workers, over sees the quality of retirement programs impacting millions of workers nationwide, collects and publishes independent foundational data about our economy and workforce through the bureau of labor statistics and much more. In other words, the ability of this department to operate effectively has enormous impact on workers, on families and on our economy. So im concerned about President Trumps proposal to cut more than 20 of the dol budget. It is difficult to see how the department could maintain, let alo alone improve, its performance were such dramatic cuts to go into effect. Under the president s budget, workers would pay the price for a budget designed to help those at the top which is unacceptable, so i will want to hear how you as someone who would be responsible for carrying out the critical work of this kdepartment view the president s proposal. Im looking forward to your testimony and your responses on these and many issues and i hope we receive clear and thorough answers. I firmly believe that workers should have a strong advocate at the department of labor, and that is what i will continue to push for. Thank you very much, mr. Chairman. Thank you, senator murray. Now we welcome senator rubio and senator cruz, well invite each of you to introduce mr. Acosta. Then i know both of you have other commitments and so youre welcome to stay or welcome to go to your other commitments after that. Well move to his statements. So senator rubio. Thank you. Mr. Chairman, thank you to the Ranking Member for an opportunity to be before the committee today. It is my honor to be able to introduce mr. Acosta and wholeheartedly encourage the committee and senate to support his nomination to be our next secretary of labor. I begin by saying i know alex well. Hes a fellow floridian. As a native of miami, ive been familiar with his work for many, many years and later i came to know him personally as well. As i said when the president nominated him, i think hes an outstanding choice to lead the department of labor. He has a Sterling Record of Public Service to our state and country. Youll learn about that today as you see not just in your materials but his testimony as well. He was a member of the National LaborsRelations Board. Appointed by president george w. Bush from 02 to 03. From there he was selected by president bush to serve as assistant attorney general for the Civil Rights Division, the u. S. Department of justice where he also served as the Principal Deputy assistant attorney general in that office. Beginning in august of 2013. But the two places i would refer you and the place i watched the most closely and most proud of his work, the first is he was the u. S. Attorney in one of the most challenging districts in country, floridas Southern District. And i encourage you to look at the numerous cases and the complexity of many of these cases that fall under their jurisdiction, in particular during his time there. Most recently he served as the dean of Florida International universitys college of law where he has been instrumental in getting the school off the ground after its recent founding. Hes raised its profile and its begun to graduate wellprepared young men and women for their careers. Florida International University is a place that i know well. I actually have been an adjunct professor there for over ten years. Where a significant percentage of the students, not just at the law school, but in the school in general, are the first in their family to ever attend or graduate from college. Has a higher percentage of such students than virtually any other college or university in america. And under his constitute lidtut leadership, fsu opened the door for hundreds of young people who would have had to do what i did, take on significant Student Loan Debt in order to get their jurisdictijusris doctor degree. With every challenge hes confronted throughout his distinguished career, alex has continuously demonstrated his ability to effectively tackle the problems at hand with ease. Hes a brilliant, brilliant legal mind, someone with deep knowledge of labor issues. And a proven leader and manager for these reasons and many more, im confident alex acosta will serve the nation admirably. Im proud to introduce him to the committee today and urge you to support his nomination. I think you, mr. Chairman, the Ranking Member for this opportunity. Thank you, senator rubio. Senator cruz, welcome. Thank you, mr. Chairman, Ranking Member, members of this committee. It is a privilege to be before you today and have the opportunity to introduce my friend, alex acosta. Ive known alex for 25 years. He and i went to law school together. Weve been friends a long time. Theres a lot you can know about alex from looking at his resume, looking at his bio. You can know that hes smart, that hes academically accomplished. That hes led a life of Public Service, making a difference in the lives of others. But one of the things you know getting to know someone over the course of 2 1 2 decades is you learn their character. And i can tell you that alex is a man of character. A man who takes very seriously fidelly lity to the law, fidelo the constitution, and a man who has a passion for