Scott Statement on the Passing of Former Secretary of Labor Alexis Herman

NEWPORT NEWS, VA- Congressman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03), Ranking Member of the Committee on Education and Workforce, issued the following statement on the passing of former Secretary of Labor Alexis Herman:

"I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of my friend Alexis Herman. In 1977, President Carter appointed her director of the Women's Bureau at the age of 29 - the youngest director in the history of the Department of Labor. After the Carter Administration, she founded her own consulting firm to work to advance diversity and inclusion in corporate America, working with such large companies as Proctor & Gamble and AT&T. She returned to government service after President Clinton's election, serving as the first African American woman Assistant to the President and Director of the White House Office of Public Liaison. And in 1997, President Clinton appointed her as the 23rd Secretary of Labor - the first African American to hold that position. Alexis was a trailblazer whose commitment to equity and justice transformed the American workplace.

"From her early days working to desegregate schools in Mobile, Alabama to her leadership in the private sector and the Carter and Clinton Administrations, Alexis dedicated her life to expanding opportunities for all Americans-especially women, minorities, and working families. As Secretary of Labor, she was instrumental in resolving the 1997 UPS strike, securing passage of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, cracking down on sweatshop labor and child labor violations, ensuring robust enforcement of equal employment opportunities, and expanding youth employment opportunities, particularly in underserved communities.

"Her legacy will continue to guide us in our ongoing efforts to build a more just and inclusive society. My thoughts are with her family, friends, and all who were touched by her remarkable life."

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