Trump Labor Secretary Nominee Advances After Securing Bipartisan Support

Lori Chavez-DeRemer, President Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Labor, has cleared a crucial hurdle in the Senate confirmation process. The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) voted favorably to advance her nomination by a bipartisan vote of 14-9 on Thursday morning. This positive outcome was significantly influenced by Democratic Senator Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, who announced her support for Chavez-DeRemer after weighing input from constituents, including labor union members.

The path to this point has been somewhat turbulent, with Chavez-DeRemer facing scrutiny regarding her past stance on the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act. Senator Rand Paul, a Republican from Kentucky, expressed concerns about her previous support for the PRO Act and initially indicated he would oppose her nomination if she continued to endorse the legislation. This reluctance from a Republican senator meant that Chavez-DeRemer would likely need to secure support from at least some Democrats to overcome this critical procedural vote.

Ultimately, in addition to Hassan, Senators John Hickenlooper of Colorado and Tim Kaine of Virginia, both Democrats, voted in favor of advancing Chavez-DeRemer’s nomination. This bipartisan support underscores a willingness among some Democrats to consider Chavez-DeRemer’s qualifications and stated commitment to serving the interests of workers and small businesses.

Senator Hassan highlighted the importance of the Labor Department’s role in supporting both workers and small businesses, stating that she was swayed by significant support from her constituents. In a statement to Fox News Digital, she explained that after hearing from labor unions and other stakeholders in New Hampshire, she decided to support Chavez-DeRemer’s nomination.

Senator Hassan also acknowledged that she may not agree with Chavez-DeRemer on every issue, but emphasized that she believes the nominee is qualified for the position and has garnered considerable support from New Hampshire voters. She further stated that she looks forward to working with her to support workers and small businesses in her state.

One of the key points of contention surrounding Chavez-DeRemer’s nomination centered on her previous support for the PRO Act. As a representative for Oregon’s 5th Congressional District, she had initially backed the legislation. However, during her confirmation hearing before the HELP Committee, Chavez-DeRemer clarified that she no longer supports overturning Republican-backed right-to-work laws under the PRO Act.

The PRO Act is a controversial piece of legislation that aims to strengthen the rights of workers to organize and collectively bargain. A central provision of the PRO Act would effectively eliminate state-level right-to-work laws, which prevent employers and unions from requiring workers to pay union dues as a condition of employment. Republicans generally oppose the PRO Act because they view right-to-work laws as promoting individual freedom and economic growth.

Senator Rand Paul had made it clear that his support for Chavez-DeRemer’s nomination hinged on her disavowal of the PRO Act. He stated that if she were to publicly retract her support for the PRO Act, he would reconsider her nomination. During the hearing, he directly questioned her on this issue, asking, "So you no longer support the aspect of the PRO Act that would have overturned state right-to-work laws?" Chavez-DeRemer responded, "Yes, sir."

Despite Chavez-DeRemer’s clarification, Senator Paul ultimately voted against her in committee. However, with the support of Senators Hassan, Hickenlooper, and Kaine, her nomination was successfully reported favorably out of committee.

Chavez-DeRemer testified before the HELP Committee on February 19, providing an opportunity for senators to question her on her qualifications, policy positions, and vision for the Department of Labor.

With the committee vote completed, the next step in the confirmation process is for Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a Republican from South Dakota, to file a motion to end Senate floor debate on the nomination. This would then trigger a cloture vote, which requires 60 votes to pass and effectively limits the amount of time for debate. Once the debate is closed, senators will cast their final confirmation vote.

During her hearing, Chavez-DeRemer emphasized the importance of investing in trade schools to expand educational opportunities beyond traditional four-year degrees, thereby strengthening the American workforce. She also expressed her commitment to creating a level playing field for American businesses, workers, and unions.

Chavez-DeRemer also acknowledged President Trump’s nomination and lauded him for what she described as "the single greatest political achievement of our time" – building a "new coalition of working-class Americans." She cited the growing support for Trump among Teamsters, African-American, and Latino voters, as well as record-breaking turnout in traditionally Democratic cities and states. She stated that Americans are calling for action, progress, and leadership that prioritizes the American worker.

President Trump nominated Chavez-DeRemer for Secretary of Labor less than three weeks after he was elected president. In a statement, Trump praised her for working tirelessly with both business and labor to build America’s workforce and support hardworking Americans. He expressed his eagerness to work with her to create opportunities for American workers, expand training and apprenticeships, increase wages, improve working conditions, and bring back manufacturing jobs. He concluded by stating that, together, they would achieve historic cooperation between business and labor to restore the American Dream for working families.