. >> in 2009, hilda solis became the first latina to ever hold a position in a president's cabinet while in office, solis introduced updates to the child labor law that would have kept children out of hazardous farm work. she was blasted by members of congress for over-reaching her powers. >> i'm troubled by the fact that where you start is so contrary to a way of life, to common sense and to the that things are done. norma flores lopez was part of a coalition that worked to get the changes passed. that we saw out there was that children would not be able to do any type of work in agriculture, that they wouldn't be able to operate a battery operated flashlight or to be able to use a hand-held screwdriver. >> it was so broad that it banned someone under the age of 16 from using a power-driven screwdriver. >> they were led to believe that they wouldn't be able to work on any farm, even if it was their parents. that the parent exemption would be done away with. >> there are some things people in dc don't understand how it plays out on the ground. >> reyberg led the charge in congress to ens

pick up your to will and fight. >> in excellent answer former secretary of labor hilda solis has a long and distinguished career in electoral politics first elected to public office 1985 as the member of the unity college board of trustees and then became the first leg to get elected to the california state senate and then increase the minimum wage from $4 to $0.25 at $5.75 per hour in 1986. still not the of living wage i am sure whatever it is now. and looking at several terms in the congress labor laws the environment but i would like to start with your view talking with the former fifth place of employment. follow suit responsory this event those that will continue to speak with the kennedy library foundation the first to receive the jfk profile in courage award because of environmental justice and raising the minimum wage back when senator kennedy was alive this is the third time i have been here and i am dying those folks in congress and i could not go to the library because of the government employees were furloughed. so much happened in the last 50 years but so much more has to b

up next, brandeis law school professor anita hill, former labor secretary hilda solis and attorney sandra fluke. from the jfk library in boston this is about one hour. >> well, i'm just going to sit back and let you take it from there. seriously, anita hill here on might immediate left was pressed into the headlines when 20 years ago when she testified before senator and a confirmation hearing for than supreme court justice nominee clarence thomas. the televised hearings galvanized women politically and we got the year of the woman 1992 when a record number of women -- [applause] -- were elected to congress. and since then professor who has been writing and lecturing at brandeis numbers should be writing and lecturing around the country, and, indeed, around the world about law, public policy and women's rights. so professor hill, if you could just give us a little window into what that personal expense was and how it transformed your life and i think maybe redirected your nation for the intervening decades that have since passed? >> oh, boy. well, i will say that it is columbus day weeken

answer and probably along the lines of what our next speaker will give as well former secretary hilda solis. she has a long and distinguished career in electoral politics. she was first elected to public office in 1985 as a member of the rio hondo community college board of trustees. from there she went on to serve in california state assembly and then in 1994 became the first latina elected to the california state senate. she led the battle in the senate to increase the state minimum wage from $4.25 to $5.75 an hour. that was 1996. i don't know what it is now but it's still not a living wage i am sure. and she authored or co-authored 17 state laws combating domestic violence. she served several terms in the u.s. congress before joining the obama administration 2009. labor laws, the environment, women's rights are all part of her port for leo -- portfolio. as a former member of congress i guess i would like to start with your view of what you think as you look back on your former place of employment. [laughter] >> it was a lot better before, but i do want to thank folks that are sponsoring