The Senate official confirmed Representative Hilda L. Solis to be the Secretary of Labor in the Obama administration, after several weeks of delays prompted largely by Republican concerns over her nomination.

Ms. Solis, 51, of California, cleared the Senate 80 to 17 after the Republican leadership dropped its insistence that her nomination clear a 60-vote procedural motion before it could be formally considered. That was agreed to earlier this morning.

Her nomination troubles in some ways represented the deep philosophical divisions between Republicans and Democrats over labor issues. Or more specifically, the qualms on the G.O.P. side about her nomination might be seen as a prelude to the larger fight brewing over legislation that would make joining a union easier. Mrs. Solis enjoyed the strong backing of the big labor unions and her own family’s history as union members.

Despite the armies lining up again on both sides of the legislation this early and calls by the major labor organizations for the bill to be passed, Senator Harry Reid, the majority leader, indicated a few weeks ago that the legislation, called the Employee Free Choice Act, isn’t like to be formally considered until perhaps this summer.

Ms. Solis’ nomination also stumbled a bit when it was disclosed that her husband paid $6,400 in tax liens earlier this year on his auto repair business.