President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for labor secretary is one of the few Republican lawmakers who signed the Protecting the Right to Organize Act — otherwise known as the PRO Act — legislation that would make it easier for workers to unionize. the appointment is being applauded by some key trade unions.
Trump announced Friday his intention to nominate Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer of Oregon to head the Labor Department, a post that requires Senate confirmation.
“Lori’s strong support from the Business and Labor communities will ensure that the Department of Labor unites 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 the first two Latinas to serve in the Oregon state Congress. The former Happy Valley mayor and businessman lost his bid to retake Oregon’s 5th District earlier this month.
Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, flanked by Rep. Tom Emmer and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, speaks during a press conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Jan. 25, 2023.
Andrew Harnik/AP
The member of Congress for Primary Education serves on the House Education and Workforce Committee, which began more than 150 years ago as an education and labor committee. If calls to dismantle the federal Education Department in the second Trump administration are successful, Chavez-DeRemer could oversee education programs that are redistributed to the labor department.
Sen. Mike Rounds (RS.D.) has introduced legislation with a multi-year roadmap to eliminate the Department of Education and reallocate the department’s responsibilities to the Departments of the Interior, Treasury, Health and Human Services, State and Labor. invoice text
President Virginia Foxx released the following statement congratulating her colleague on the congressional committee.
“I look forward to seeing a Department of Labor that embraces free enterprise policies so that workers and job creators can succeed. It’s time to get the heavy hands of the federal government out of the way. Instead of punitive, inflammatory, job-killing regulations, it’s time to unleash America’s ingenuity and entrepreneurial spirit.” .
Chavez-DeRemer’s selection is also being applauded by some key unions.
The National Education Association (NEA), the nation’s largest professional staff organization, applauded the appointment.
“During her time in Congress, Lori Chavez-DeRemer voted against the Department of Education, against school vouchers, and against education funding cuts. She passed the Public Service Freedom to Bargain Act, the PRO Act, and other pro-student protections. She is pro-public school, pro-worker legislation,” NEA President Becky Pringle said in a statement.
The PRO Act would expand labor protections for workers’ rights to form unions in the workplace. Chavez-DeRemer signed on to support the bill this summer One of three Republicans in the House for that
“This record stands in stark contrast to Donald Trump’s anti-worker, anti-union record and his extreme Project 2025 agenda, which would slash workplace protections, make it harder for workers to unionize, and reduce workers’ voice,” Pringle added. .
He added, “Educators and working families across the nation will be watching Lori Chavez-DeRemer as she goes through the confirmation process and look forward to hearing her commitment to continue to stand up for workers and students as her history shows, not blind allegiance to the Project 2025 agenda.”
Sean O’Brien, president of the Teamsters union, who spoke at the Republican National Convention in July, had He is said to have opted for Trump Chavez-DeRemer to be appointed to the position.
After the appointment was announced, O’Brien has published a congratulatory message on the social networking platform, X.
