Liz Watson | |
|---|---|
| Assistant Secretary of Labor for Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs | |
| In office August 31, 2022 – January 20, 2025 | |
| President | Joe Biden |
| Preceded by | Michelle Rose (acting) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1975-12-09)December 9, 1975 (age 49) Bloomington, Indiana, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Craig Briskin |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Carleton College (BA) Georgetown University (JD) |
| Website | Campaign website[dead link] |
Elizabeth Schoff Watson (born December 9, 1975) is an American labor attorney, former executive director of theCongressional Progressive Caucus Center, and a former Assistant Secretary of Labor for Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs at theUnited States Department of Labor.[1] Watson was the Democratic nominee for the 2018U.S. House of Representatives election inIndiana's 9th congressional district.[2]
Watson was born inBloomington,Indiana.[3] She attendedBloomington High School South before earning degrees fromCarleton College andGeorgetown University Law Center.[3] One of Watson's first jobs was as anintern in the district office ofCongressmanFrank McCloskey.[4]
Watson began her legal career as aSkadden Public Interest Law Fellow inNew York City's Welfare Law Center, representing participants in the city's workfare program and educating women about their rights under labor and employment laws.[5]
Watson briefly worked as an employment attorney atOrrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe before joining the staff of the Workplace Flexibility 2010 project atGeorgetown Law School,[6] where she developed policies to help low-wage workers better balance work and family responsibilities.[7] She was then promoted to executive director of the Georgetown Center on Poverty, Inequality and Public Policy, where she led a group proposing a broader set of public policy initiatives to address the needs of low-income workers.
At theNational Women's Law Center, Watson was director of Workplace Justice for Women and Senior Counsel, and authored publications such as "It Shouldn’t Be A Heavy Lift: Fair Treatment for Pregnant Workers" and "50 Years & Counting: The Unfinished Business of Achieving Fair Pay".[8]
From 2015 to 2017, she served as the labor policy director and chief labor counsel for House Democrats in theCommittee on Education and the Workforce in theUnited States House of Representatives.[9][3]
In 2017, Watson returned to Bloomington and began teachingconstitutional law at theIndiana University Maurer School of Law while running for Congress.[10][11][12]
The Congressional Progressive Caucus Center (CPCC) named her its executive director in 2019.[1]
On April 27, 2021, PresidentJoe Biden nominated Watson to serve as Assistant Secretary of Labor for Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs at the United States Department of Labor.[13] Watson's initial nomination expired at the end of the year, and was sent back to President Biden on January 3, 2022.[14]
President Biden renominated Watson the following day. Her nomination was confirmed on May 18, 2022.[15]
In July 2017, Watson announced her candidacy to representIndiana's 9th congressional district in theU.S. House of Representatives as a Democrat.[3]
Watson defeated civil rights attorneyDan Canon and truck driver Rob Chatlos in the May 8, 2018,Democratic primary election with 24,981 votes and 66.4% of the total votes cast.[16][17][18][19] Watson's victory garnered national attention for the high level of financial and volunteer support she received from feminists.[20][21][22]
In September 2018, Watson was endorsed by SenatorsBernie Sanders[23] andElizabeth Warren.[24] As of September 30, 2018, the Liz for Indiana campaign reported $1,946,997 in total receipts and $1,452,365 in total disbursements.[25] Watson lost toRepublican incumbentTrey Hollingsworth in the November 6, 2018,general election. Hollingsworth defeated Watson with 56.5% of the vote to her 43.5%.[26]
Watson was one of three 2018 candidates featured in the 2020 documentarySurge, along withRepresentative Lauren Underwood and Jana Sanchez.[27][28] The documentary has received critical attention from a variety of sources.[29]
Watson supportsMedicare for All.[30] She also supports theObamacare, calling it a "starting point" that needs work.[31]
On her campaign website, Watson says she opposes defundingPlanned Parenthood, calling it "high-quality, affordable health care for both women and men." She also opposes Congressional attempts to blockMedicaid patients from accessing care at Planned Parenthood centers.[32][30]
Regarding marijuana policy, Watson supports the legalization ofmedical marijuana as well asfederal measures to prevent interference from theDepartment of Justice in the implementation of state medical cannabis laws.[33][34]
As director of workplace justice at theNational Women's Law Center, Watson helped passpaid family leave andgender equity pay laws inMaryland.[21]
More recently, as the Labor Policy Director for the Democrats in theHouse of Representatives, Watson led the development of legislation which called for theminimum wage to be raised to aliving wage at $15 an hour.[3][21][35]
Watson supportslabor unions and opposes raising theretirement age.[36][37][38]
Watson supports the expansion of access toearly childhood and pre-kindergarten education and opposesvoucher programs and further expansion ofcharter schools.[39]
Regarding higher education, Watson supports theCollege for All Act, which would "eliminate tuition and fees at four-year public colleges and universities for families making up to $125,000 ... and make community college tuition- and fee-free for all."[39][40]
Watson supports reinstating thefederal ban on assault weapons which expired in 2004. Additionally, Watson supports revoking theCenter for Disease Control's ban on researchinggun violence. Watson opposes theConcealed Carry Reciprocity Act which "would require states to recognize concealed carry permits issued by other states."[41][42]
Watson supports theDo No Harm Act, which would amend theReligious Freedom Restoration Act to clarify that it is "intended to protect religious freedom without allowing the infliction of harm on other people."[43][44]
Watson married lawyer Craig Briskin at theIndiana University Auditorium in 2003.[45] They have two children and lived in Bloomington, Indiana.[3]
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