WASHINGTON – This morning at 10:00am, U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) will introduce Sharon Block of Westport, Connecticut, during a U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee nomination hearing. Block has been nominated to serve as a member of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). Currently she serves as a Senior Counselor in the Office of the Secretary at the U.S. Department of Labor where she has worked with Murphy on bringing job training programs to at-risk youth and helping the long-term unemployed find jobs. She previously served as a member of the National Labor Relations Board, and is currently nominated to fill Board Member Nancy Schiffer’s seat.

Murphy’s prepared remarks are below:

I am proud to be back again to introduce this dedicated public servant from Westport, Connecticut, whose parents made the trip down from the Nutmeg state to see their daughter’s nomination considered by this Committee.

I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know Ms. Block during her previous confirmation process and also through her work as a Senior Counselor to Secretary Perez at the Department of Labor, where we worked together on getting long-term unemployed Americans back to work and helping at-risk youth develop the job skills necessary to succeed in today’s economy.

Many on this Committee will remember Ms. Block from her time as Senior Labor and Employment Counsel for this Committee under Chairman Kennedy, when she helped pass a crucial piece of legislation that will ensure fairness in the workplace and pay equity for women – the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act.

As you know, Mr. Chairman, the NLRB is the most important safeguard for both employees and employers that we have today, so I am glad we are considering such a fair and diligent Member to serve on the National Labor Relations Board.

Ms. Block has served with integrity as a Board Member since January 2012, where, at her last confirmation hearing, even my Republican colleagues who opposed her nomination noted her long career in public service and her stellar qualifications to be an NLRB Board Member.

I’m looking forward to a constructive discussion today about America’s workforce and am pleased that such a qualified and deserving nominee sits before this Committee for today’s hearing.