Elaine Chao
18th United States Secretary of Transportation and 24th United States Secretary of Labor From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Elaine Lan Chao-McConnell (趙小蘭; born March 26, 1953)[2] is an American politician. She was the 18th United States Secretary of Transportation from January 31, 2017 to January 11, 2021 during the Donald Trump administration.
She served as the 24th United States Secretary of Labor under President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2009, and Deputy Secretary of Transportation under President George H. W. Bush. She was the first Asian-American woman and the first Taiwanese American in U.S. history to be appointed to a U.S. president's cabinet.[3]
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Early life
Chao was born in Taipei, Taiwan.[4] Her parents were Ruth Mulan Chu Chao (1930–2007) and James S. C. Chao (born 1927). Her parents immigrated to the United States in 1961. She studied at Mount Holyoke College in Massachusetts and at Harvard University.
United States Secretary of Labor (2001–2009)
Chao was the only cabinet member in the George W. Bush administration to serve for the entirety of his eight years.[5] She was also the longest-serving Secretary of Labor since Frances Perkins, who served from 1933 to 1945, under President Franklin D. Roosevelt.[6]
United States Secretary of Transport (2017–2021)
On November 29, 2016, it was announced that President-elect Donald Trump planned to nominate Chao for Secretary of Transportation when he takes office.[7]
On January 31, 2017, the United States Senate confirmed Chao's nomination with a 93-6 vote.[8] She assumed office on the same day, with Vice President Mike Pence swearing her in.
Following the 2021 United States Capitol attack, Chao announced her resignation as Secretary of Transportation on January 7, 2021. She resigned on January 11, 2021.[9][10]
Personal life
Chao is married to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.
References
Other websites
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