Civil and Human Rights Coalition Applauds Confirmation of EEOC Nominees

WASHINGTON – Nancy Zirkin, executive vice president of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, issued the following statement on the Senate’s confirmation of Charlotte Burrows as Commissioner and P. David Lopez as General Counsel of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC):

“Today’s confirmations of Charlotte Burrows and David Lopez will ensure that the EEOC has the guidance of two distinguished and committed public servants. The work of the EEOC is vital to protecting Americans’ most basic rights to live and work free from discrimination and both Burrows and Lopez have demonstrated a clear commitment to this mission. 

Charlotte Burrows’ experience as a longtime counsel to Senator Ted Kennedy and her impressive career at the Department of Justice, including her work in the Civil Rights Division and as Associate Deputy Attorney General, have prepared her well to serve as a Commissioner. We look forward to continuing our work with Commissioner Burrows in her new capacity.

Throughout David Lopez’s outstanding career at the EEOC, he has managed an extremely successful trial program  that has led the EEOC to significant verdicts involving race discrimination. We look forward to continuing to work with Mr. Lopez as General Counsel of the EEOC as he oversees the litigation of the commission.

We commend President Obama for nominating Burrows and renominating Lopez, and applaud the Senate for confirming them to these important positions.”

Nancy Zirkin is the executive vice president of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, a coalition charged by its diverse membership of more than 200 national organizations to promote and protect the rights of all persons in the United States. The Leadership Conference works toward an America as good as its ideals. For more information on The Leadership Conference and its 200-plus member organizations, visit www.civilrights.org.