WNY native Perez stresses job creation as top priority in role as labor secretary

Opportunity’ is focus of WNY native’s role.

With a bruising confirmation battle long behind him and a ceremonial swearing-in just ended, Snyder native Thomas E. Perez on Wednesday vowed to put job creation first as he takes full charge of the Department of Labor.

“I love this job, because the Department of Labor can, must, will, does play a critical role in expanding opportunity,” Perez, who officially became labor secretary July 22, said to a crowd of 800 that gathered to see him place a hand on a Bible held by his son, Rafael, and take the oath of office from Vice President Biden.

“Boiled down to its essence, the Department of Labor is the department of opportunity,” he added. “And as we emerge from the worst recession of most of our lifetimes, I will make it my top priority to expand opportunity in a number of different ways.”

To hear Biden tell it, Perez is just the man for the task.

“I am absolutely confident that you are going to do an enormously important job here, and do it in a way that will make everyone proud,” Biden told Perez.

Perez praised his hometown while vowing to fight for jobs, worker rights and workplace safety.

Saying he was proud of his Buffalo roots, Perez added: “It’s the City of Good Neighbors, where people take care of each other rather than looking out for No. 1, where it’s about building a community for everyone.”

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