国际英语新闻: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 Labor 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 previously also served as the Secretary of Maryland's Department of Labor, Licensing 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 nomination 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 overhaul 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 lauded Perez's work in implementing 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.