President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for labor secretary is one of a handful of Republican lawmakers to sign the Protecting the Right to Organize Act — otherwise known as the PRO Act — legislation that would make it easier to unionization of workers, and her This appointment is applauded by some key unions.
Trump announced plans Friday to nominate Oregon Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer to head the Department of Labor, a position that requires Senate confirmation.
“Lori’s strong support from the business and labor communities will ensure that the Department of Labor can unite Americans of all backgrounds behind our agenda for unprecedented national success – Making America Richer , richer, stronger and more prosperous than ever! » Trump said in a statement.
Chavez-DeRemer is the first Republican woman and one of the first two Latinas to serve in the Oregon State Congress. The former Happy Valley mayor and businesswoman lost her bid to win back Oregon’s 5th District earlier this month.
Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, joined by Majority Whip Rep. Tom Emmer and House Majority Leader Rep. Steve Scalise, speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Jan. 25, 2023.
Andrew Harnik/AP
The freshman congresswoman serves on the House Education and Workforce Committee, which began as the Education and Labor Committee more than 150 years ago. If calls to dismantle the federal Department of Education succeed under the second Trump administration, Chavez-DeRemer could potentially oversee education programs that are redistributed to the Labor Department.
Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) introduced legislation with a multi-year road map to eliminate the Department of Education and reserved the department’s responsibilities for the Departments of Interior, Treasury, Health, and Social, State and Labor Services, according to the text of the bill.
Chairwoman Virginia Foxx released the following statement congratulating her congressional committee colleague.
“I look forward to seeing a Department of Labor adopt free enterprise policies so workers and job creators can thrive. It’s time for the heavy hand of the federal government to step aside. Instead of punitive regulations , overzealous and job-killing, it’s time to unleash America’s ingenuity and entrepreneurship.”
The choice of Chavez-DeRemer is also applauded by some key unions.
The National Education Association (NEA), the nation’s largest professional employee organization, applauded the nomination.
“During her time in Congress, Lori Chavez-DeRemer voted against defunding the Department of Education, against school vouchers, and against cuts to education funding. She co-sponsored the Freedom to Bargain Act public service, the PRO Act and other pro-student measures, pro-public school and pro-worker legislation,” NEA President Becky Pringle said in a statement.
The PRO Act would expand labor protections regarding workers’ rights to form unions in the workplace. Chavez-DeRemer, who pledged to co-sponsor the bill this summer, is one of only three Republicans in the House to do so.
“This record contrasts sharply with the anti-worker and anti-union record of Donald Trump and his extreme Project 2025 agenda that would gut workplace protections, make it harder for workers to unionize, and diminish the voice of workers.” , Pringle added. .
She added: “Educators and working families across the country will be watching Lori Chavez-DeRemer as she moves through the confirmation process and hope to hear a commitment from her to continue to advocate for workers and students as her record suggests this, and not blind loyalty to the Project 2025 agenda.
Sean O’Brien, president of the Teamsters union, who spoke at the Republican National Convention in July, reportedly pushed for Trump to appoint Chavez-DeRemer to the position.
After the nomination was announced, O’Brien posted a congratulatory message on social media platform X.
