Obama nominates Thomas Perez as Labor Secretary

 　　WASHINGTON, March 18 (Xinhua)-- U.S. President Barack Obama on Monday tapped Thomas Perez, the federal assistant attorney general for civil rights, as the new Labor¹ Secretary.

　　If confirmed by the Senate, he would be the first Hispanic chosen for Obama's second-term cabinet, succeeding Hilda Solis, who stepped down in January.

　　Perez, 51, the son of immigrants from the Dominican Republic, has been put in charge of the Civil Rights Division with the Justice Department since 2009. He previously² also served as the Secretary of Maryland's Department of Labor, Licensing³ and Regulation, and was the first Latino elected to the Montgomery County Council in Maryland, where he served from 2002 to 2006.

　　Perez's "knowledge and experience will make him an outstanding Secretary of Labor," Obama said during a White House nomination⁴ ceremony, praising his track record at federal, state, and local government levels.

　　Citing his past work as a civil rights lawyer, a Senator aide and a member of the Montgomery County Council, Obama said "Tom fought for a level playing field where hard work and responsibility are rewarded and working families can get ahead."

　　Perez's nomination has been expected for days, and would be hailed by Hispanic groups and organized labor.

　　While urging the Senate to confirm Perez's nomination as quickly as possible, Obama mentioned some of his own initiatives, including an overhaul⁵ of immigration laws and an increase in the minimum wage.

　　"We need to build an immigration system that works for every employee and every family and every business. I am confident that Tom is going to be able to work to promote economic growth, but also make sure that growth is broad-based," Obama said.

　　Obama also lauded⁶ Perez's work in implementing⁷ the country's first statewide living-wage law when he served as Secretary of Maryland's Department of Labor, as well as his effort in help settling some of the largest cases on unfair mortgage lending.

　　As a lawyer with a degree from Harvard Law school, Perez used to serve as head of civil rights enforcement at the Health and Human Services Department under former U.S. President Bill Clinton.

1 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

2 previously   

adv.以前，先前（地）

参考例句：

• The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
• Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿，解释原先发生了什么。

3 licensing   

v.批准，许可，颁发执照( license的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• A large part of state regulation consists of occupational licensing. 大部分州的管理涉及行业的特许批准。 来自英汉非文学 - 行政法
• That licensing procedures for projects would move faster. 这样的工程批准程序一定会加快。 来自辞典例句

4 nomination   

n.提名，任命，提名权

参考例句：

• John is favourite to get the nomination for club president.约翰最有希望被提名为俱乐部主席。
• Few people pronounced for his nomination.很少人表示赞成他的提名。

5 overhaul   

v./n.大修，仔细检查

参考例句：

• Master Worker Wang is responsible for the overhaul of this grinder.王师傅主修这台磨床。
• It is generally appreciated that the rail network needs a complete overhaul.众所周知，铁路系统需要大检修。

6 lauded   

v.称赞，赞美( laud的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• They lauded the former president as a hero. 他们颂扬前总统为英雄。 来自辞典例句
• The nervy feats of the mountaineers were lauded. 登山者有勇气的壮举受到赞美。 来自辞典例句

7 implementing   

v.实现( implement的现在分词 )；执行；贯彻；使生效

参考例句：

• -- Implementing a comprehensive drug control strategy. ――实行综合治理的禁毒战略。 来自汉英非文学 - 白皮书
• He was in no hurry about implementing his unshakable principle. 他并不急于实行他那不可动摇的原则。 来自辞典例句