​Washington – President Barack Oba​ma on March 18 nominated his head civil rights attorney, Thomas Perez, to be the new secretary of labor.

Perez has served in the Department of Justice as the assistant attorney general for civil rights since 2009. Prior to that, he was the secretary of labor for Maryland.

Before assuming the post, Perez must be confirmed by the Senate. Perez would take over for Acting Secretary of Labor Seth Harris, who has filled the role since Hilda L. Solis stepped down in January.