Tom Perez poised to reach milestone for Dominican diaspora

Washington.- President Barack Obama formally nominated Thomas Perez on Monday to become his next secretary of labor, and if confirmed by the U.S. Congress, will become the highest ranking U.S. official of Dominican origin.

Obama, who called on the Senate to swiftly confirm the Justice Department official, introduced Perez, an assistant U.S. Attorney General, at the White House Monday morning.

Perez would be the only Latino member of Obama’s second-term cabinet, replacing another prominent Latina, outgoing Secretary Hilda Solis.

"His story reminds us of this country’s promise," the president said of his nominee. "Tom’s made protecting that promise for everybody the cause of his life," the U.S. president said of Perez.