Tom Perez facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tom Perez
Official portrait, 2013
Senior Advisor to the President
In office June 12, 2023 – January 20, 2025
President	Joe Biden
Preceded by	Julie Rodriguez
Succeeded by	Elon Musk Massad Boulos
Director of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs
In office June 12, 2023 – January 20, 2025
President	Joe Biden
Deputy	Daniel Koh
Preceded by	Julie Chavez Rodriguez
Succeeded by	Alex Meyer
Chair of the Democratic National Committee
In office February 24, 2017 – January 21, 2021
Deputy	Keith Ellison (2017–2018)
Preceded by	Debbie Wasserman Schultz
Succeeded by	Jaime Harrison
26th United States Secretary of Labor
In office July 23, 2013 – January 20, 2017
President	Barack Obama
Deputy	Seth Harris Chris Lu
Preceded by	Hilda Solis
Succeeded by	Alexander Acosta
United States Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division
In office October 8, 2009 – July 23, 2013
President	Barack Obama
Preceded by	Wan J. Kim
Succeeded by	Jocelyn Samuels (acting)
Secretary of the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation
In office March 15, 2007 – October 7, 2009
Governor	Martin O'Malley
Preceded by	James Fielder
Succeeded by	Alexander Sanchez
Member of the Montgomery County Council from the 5th district
In office December 10, 2002 – December 10, 2006
Preceded by	Donell Peterman
Succeeded by	Valerie Ervin
Personal details
Born	Thomas Edward Perez (1961-10-07) October 7, 1961 (age 63) Buffalo, New York, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Ann Staudenmaier
Children	3
Residences	Takoma Park, Maryland, U.S.
Education	Brown University (BA) Harvard University (JD, MPP)
Signature

Thomas Edward Perez (born October 7, 1961) is an American politician and lawyer. He served as a top advisor to President Joe Biden and led the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs from 2023 to 2025. Before that, Perez held several important roles. He was the United States Secretary of Labor from 2013 to 2017. He also chaired the Democratic National Committee (DNC) from 2017 to 2021. From 2009 to 2013, he was the United States Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights.

Perez was born in Buffalo, New York. He studied at Brown University and then at Harvard Law School and the John F. Kennedy School of Government. Early in his career, he worked as a federal prosecutor focusing on civil rights. He also advised Senator Ted Kennedy and worked for the United States Department of Health and Human Services. In 2002, he was elected to the Montgomery County Council in Maryland. He later served as Maryland's Secretary of Labor.

President Barack Obama nominated Perez for Assistant Attorney General in 2009. In 2013, Obama nominated him again, this time to be the Secretary of Labor. After the 2016 elections, Perez became the chair of the Democratic National Committee. He ran for governor of Maryland in 2022 but did not win the primary election. In 2023, he joined the Biden administration.

Early Life and Education

Thomas Edward Perez was born and grew up in Buffalo, New York. His parents, Grace and Dr. Rafael Antonio de Jesús Pérez Lara, came to the United States from the Dominican Republic.

His father joined the U.S. Army after World War II and became a U.S. citizen. He worked as a doctor. Perez's mother came to the U.S. in 1930. Her father, Rafael Brache, was the Dominican Republic's Ambassador to the United States. He later had disagreements with the Dominican government and had to stay in the U.S.

Perez is the youngest of five children. His father passed away when Perez was 12 years old. He went to Canisius High School, a Jesuit school in Buffalo.

In 1983, Perez earned his bachelor's degree from Brown University. He studied international relations and political science. He paid for college with scholarships, grants, and by working as a trash collector and in a warehouse.

He later earned a law degree from Harvard Law School and a master's degree in public policy from the John F. Kennedy School of Government in 1987.

Early Career and Public Service

After finishing law school, Perez worked for a judge in Colorado. From 1989 to 1995, he was a federal prosecutor in the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division. He worked to protect people's rights. He also advised Senator Ted Kennedy on civil rights issues.

Later, he directed the Office for Civil Rights at the United States Department of Health and Human Services. From 2001 to 2007, Perez taught law at the University of Maryland School of Law.

Montgomery County Council Member

In 2002, Perez was elected to the county council in Montgomery County, Maryland. He was the first Hispanic person to serve on the council. He worked on issues like health and transportation. He also served as the council president from 2004 to 2005.

Perez helped pass a law to fight against "predatory lending." This is when lenders offer unfair loans with very high interest rates. He also opposed the sale of a non-profit health insurer called CareFirst.

Maryland Secretary of Labor

In 2007, Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley chose Perez to lead the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation. In this role, Perez worked to protect workers' rights.

• He targeted companies that falsely called employees "independent contractors" to avoid paying taxes and benefits.
• He supported a "living wage" law in Maryland. This law helps ensure workers earn enough to cover basic living costs.
• He helped develop a plan to address the shortage of nurses in Maryland. This plan made it easier for immigrants with nursing skills to become registered nurses in the state.

Perez's official portrait as Maryland's Secretary of DLLR

Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights

Perez's official Justice Department portrait

In 2009, President Barack Obama nominated Perez to lead the Civil Rights Division of the United States Department of Justice. The United States Senate confirmed his nomination.

Perez worked to enforce the Americans With Disabilities Act. He focused on fighting discrimination against people with HIV/AIDS. He also supported the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, which aims to protect LGBT individuals from workplace discrimination.

Protecting Student Rights

Perez's division worked to protect students from discrimination.

• In 2009, they sued a New York school for not protecting a student who was harassed for his appearance. The settlement helped the school improve its policies against harassment.
• They also reached an agreement with a school district in Minnesota. This agreement helped protect LGBT students from harassment.
• Perez's division investigated a juvenile facility in Mississippi. They found that African-American and disabled students were being unfairly arrested and jailed for minor school issues. This was called a "school-to-prison pipeline".

Police Practices and Civil Rights

Perez also investigated police departments to ensure they followed civil rights laws.

• After the shooting death of Trayvon Martin in Florida, Perez's division investigated the local police department's handling of the case.
• He led an investigation into the Seattle Police Department for using too much force. This led to an agreement for the department to improve its practices and reduce the use of force.
• Perez's division investigated the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office in Arizona. They found that the office was discriminating against Latino people. This led to a lawsuit to stop these unfair practices.

Voting Rights Efforts

Perez worked to protect voting rights.

• He challenged South Carolina's 2011 voter ID law. He argued it would make it harder for minority voters to cast their ballots. The Justice Department successfully blocked the law.
• He also challenged a similar voter ID law in Texas. Perez argued that the law would unfairly affect Hispanic voters.

Secretary of Labor (2013–2017)

President Barack Obama and Assistant Attorney General Thomas Perez during Perez's nomination for Secretary of Labor

In 2013, President Obama nominated Perez to be the United States Secretary of Labor. This role involves protecting workers' rights and improving working conditions. After a long confirmation process, the Senate confirmed Perez.

Key Actions as Secretary

• Fiduciary Rule: Perez worked to put in place the Fiduciary Rule. This rule requires financial advisors who help people with their retirement savings to act in their clients' best interest.
• Home Care Rule: He issued a rule that required home care workers for the elderly and people with disabilities to receive minimum wage and overtime pay.
• Worker Feedback: Perez often visited workplaces to hear directly from workers about their experiences.
• Veterans Employment: The Department of Labor launched a website to help military veterans find jobs and resources.

Perez with José Tomás Pérez, Dominican Republic Ambassador to the United States

Chair of the Democratic National Committee

In 2016, Perez announced he would run for Chair of the Democratic National Committee (DNC). The DNC is the main organization for the Democratic Party. On February 25, 2017, Perez was elected DNC chair. He was the first Latino person to hold this position. He served until 2021.

2022 Maryland Gubernatorial Campaign

Perez campaigning in November 2021

On June 23, 2021, Perez announced he would run for the Democratic nomination for Governor of Maryland. His running mate was Shannon Sneed. Many labor groups and members of Congress supported his campaign. However, he lost the primary election in July 2022 to Wes Moore.

Biden White House

On June 12, 2023, President Biden appointed Perez as a senior advisor and director of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs. In this role, he helped connect the White House with state and local governments. He participated in press conferences after the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Maryland in March 2024. His term ended in January 2025.

Personal Life

Perez lives in Takoma Park, Maryland, with his wife, Ann Marie Staudenmaier, who is also a lawyer. They have three children. Perez is Catholic. He often shares a saying from his parents: "In order to get to heaven, you have to have letters of reference from poor people."

Honorary Degrees

Perez has received several honorary degrees. In 2014, he received honorary Doctorates of Laws from Brown University and Drexel University School of Law. He also received an honorary Doctorate of Humanities from Oberlin College.

See also

In Spanish: Tom Pérez para niños