West Central Reporter

Illinois Rep. Mary Miller (R-15) is leading a charge against accepting Julie Su as the new Department of Labor (DOL) secretary, blaming her for the Biden Administration's COVID vaccine mandate.

"If Senator Joe Manchin votes to confirm Julie Su for Labor, he is endorsing Biden's illegal & unconstitutional COVID vaccine mandate. Su was the 'architect' of the vax mandate & tried to force 84 million Americans to get the shot or be FIRED from their job! SCOTUS had to stop her!" Miller wrote in a June 7 tweet.  

In a hearing to which she linked in her tweet, Miller voiced her opposition to Su's appointment.

The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee voted along party lines on April 24 to advance Su’s nomination to the Senate floor. It has been held there without a full Senate confirmation vote to date.

Su has been serving as acting DOL secretary since March 11. Before that, she had previously served as deputy secretary since July 13, 2021. In a February press release from the White House, President Joe Biden announced his support for Su as DOL secretary, saying that she “is a tested and experienced leader, who will continue to build a stronger, more resilient, and more inclusive economy.”

In the clip, Miller asked Su if she still thought that the DOL still had the authority to impose a vaccine requirement on American workers. Su responded that she had “full fidelity to the law and what the courts have said about that mandate.” Miller continued, “We’re concerned about where you are on this issue because you want to be acting secretary here, and we want to know what you think is within your power, the Department of Labor’s power, to impose on American workers,” saying Su signed off on the vaccine mandate.

The Supreme Court struck down the mandate, saying it had exceeded the authority of the government under the Occupational Safety and Health Act. Miller urged senators not to vote for Su's appointment, saying, “She cannot be the Secretary of Labor. She believes the federal government and Washington, D.C. should have massive power over the lives of the American people, and it took the Supreme Court to stop her.”