Biden to Establish National Monument Honoring Frances Perkins
WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden will officially proclaim the establishment of a national monument dedicated to Frances Perkins, the groundbreaking Labor Secretary during the Franklin D. Roosevelt administration and the first woman in a presidential Cabinet, on Monday.
Biden is slated to visit the Labor Department for this significant announcement, during which he will sign the proclamation designating the monument in Perkins’ hometown of Newcastle, Maine.
As the Labor Secretary, Perkins was instrumental in shaping the New Deal policies of the 1930s, which aimed to provide much-needed economic stability after the Great Depression. Her tenure saw the creation of critical legislation, including the Social Security Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, and the National Labor Relations Act, which secured workers’ rights to organize and engage in collective bargaining.
"Frances Perkins accepted the position as the first female Cabinet member only after President Franklin D. Roosevelt agreed to support her goals to improve working conditions for all people," remarked a representative from the Interior Department. "She worked tirelessly to see them to fruition, and she set a standard of excellence that is a beacon for all public service."
Perkins’ legacy is deeply rooted in Newcastle, where she was laid to rest in 1965. The new monument will be situated on her family homestead and will be managed by the National Park Service.
During the signing ceremony, Biden will be joined by key figures including the acting Labor Secretary and notable leaders from labor and women’s rights organizations.
This proclamation comes at a critical time as Biden approaches the end of his presidential term, allowing him to further establish his legacy as a proponent of women’s and labor rights.
In addition, the Interior Department announced five new national historic landmarks on the same day, celebrating significant contributions to women’s history, including sites in South Carolina, Virginia, New Mexico, and Washington, D.C.
