Walsh, Martin J. (Martin Joseph), 1967-

<p>Martin Joseph Walsh (born April 10, 1967) is an American politician serving as the 29th United States secretary of labor since March 23, 2021. A Democrat, he served as the 54th mayor of Boston from 2014 until 2021, when he resigned to take the role of Secretary of Labor under President Joe Biden. He was previously a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, representing the Thirteenth Suffolk district from 1997 until 2014. Walsh was confirmed by the United States Senate for the position of Secretary of Labor by a 68–29 vote on March 22, 2021, becoming the final member of Biden's Cabinet to be confirmed.</p>

<p>Walsh was born in Dorchester, Boston, to John Walsh, an Irish American originally from Callowfeenish, a townland near Carna, County Galway, and Mary (née O'Malley), from Rosmuc. The couple emigrated to the United States in the 1950s and gave birth to Marty in 1967.</p>

<p>Walsh grew up in the Savin Hill area of Boston's Dorchester neighborhood. He was diagnosed with Burkitt's lymphoma at age 7, forcing him to miss most of second and third grade and repeat fifth grade. At age 11, after going through years of chemotherapy, a scan revealed no traces of the cancer. He went to high school at The Newman School and, in 2009, received a bachelor's degree from the Woods College of Advancing Studies at Boston College.</p>

<p>Martin J. Walsh was sworn in as the 29th Secretary of Labor on March 23, 2021. A lifelong champion of equity and fairness, and a proud product of the City of Boston, Secretary Walsh leads the U.S. Department of Labor with a strong connection to working people, and a commitment to creating an economy that works for all.</p>

<p>In 1997, he was elected to serve as a State Representative for one of the most diverse districts in Massachusetts. There, he focused on creating good jobs, protecting workers' rights, expanding mental health treatment, and investing in public transit.</p>

<p>Following his time as a State Representative, Secretary Walsh spent the last seven years as the Mayor of the City of Boston. While mayor, he led the creation of close to 140,000 jobs and helped secure a statewide $15/hour minimum wage, paid sick leave, and paid parental leave. He established Universal, high-quality Pre-Kindergarten for all children, and free community college for low-income students.</p>

<p>Martin J. Walsh, a lifelong champion of working people and a proud product of the City of Boston, was the City’s 54th mayor. Mayor Walsh was sworn in to serve a second term on January 1, 2018.</p>

<p>Mayor Walsh’s vision was of a thriving, healthy, and innovative Boston — a City with equality and opportunity for all, where a revolutionary history inspires creative solutions to the challenges of the 21st century.</p>

<p>After taking office, Mayor Walsh was focused on strengthening Boston’s schools, adding hundreds of high-quality pre-kindergarten seats, funding extended learning time and advanced curriculum at more schools, and securing tuition-free community college for Boston Public Schools graduates.</p>