WASHINGTON — President Trump’s pick to lead the Labor Department easily cleared Senate committee vetting in a bipartisan vote on Thursday and will head to the upper chamber for final confirmation, likely next week.
Lori Chavez-DeRemer, a former Republican congresswoman from Oregon, was approved 14-9 by members of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee.
Democratic Sens. Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, John Hickenlooper of Colorado and Tim Kaine of Virginia broke with their party to support Chavez-DeRemer.
The libertarian-leaning Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky was the lone Republican opposing the nominee.
Chavez-DeRemer, 56, lost her bid for re-election in November after serving a single House term.
The nominee had faced opposition from Paul and other Republicans for being one of three House GOPers to co-sponsor the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, which would have ended legal protections for employees at unionized workplaces who don’t wish to join a union or pay dues.
Almost all congressional Republicans were staunchly opposed to the bill, claiming it would undo so-called “right-to-work” laws in roughly half of US states that protect employees from being forced into participating in unions.
Former President Joe Biden tried to pass the PRO Act as part of his pro-union agenda — but it was blocked in committee by the Republican-controlled House.
Chavez-DeRemer reversed her support for the legislation during her confirmation hearing but was still able to nab some Democratic backing — though committee ranking member Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) withheld his support after the PRO Act reversal.
Hassan, representing neighboring New Hampshire, became the first Democrat to come out in favor of Trump’s nominee on Tuesday.
“The Department of Labor plays an integral role in supporting workers and small businesses alike, and after hearing significant support from constituents, including members of labor unions in New Hampshire, I will support Representative Chavez-DeRemer’s nomination,” Hassan said in a statement.
The senator acknowledged that she and the Labor pick didn’t see eye to eye “on everything” but maintained Chavez-DeRemer was “qualified to serve.”
Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, the top Republican on the HELP panel, agreed in his opening remarks before the committee vote Thursday, adding the labor secretary-designate was “committed to preserving states’ right-to-work laws, ensuring Americans are not forced into unionization.”
“Representative Chavez-DeRemer committed to protecting independent workers and their flexibility to earn a living in the manner in which they choose,” Cassidy said. “She understands the importance of the franchise model, which employs over nine million Americans and makes it easier to become a small business owner.”
“Now, Representative Chavez-DeRemer’s nomination has the support of unions and businesses,” he added. “If confirmed, she has the opportunity to bring these two groups together to secure a better future for all. That is what she brings to the table. That is why President Trump nominated her.”
Union bosses, like AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler, had endorsed Chavez-DeRemer’s nomination after Trump, 78, tapped the Republican pol to helm the Labor Department.
“I look forward to working with her to create tremendous opportunity for America Worker, to expand Training and Apprenticeships, to grow wages and improve working conditions, to bring back our Manufacturing jobs,” the 47th president said in a statement last November.
