President-elect Donald Trump’s choose for labor secretary is without doubt one of the few Republican lawmakers to signal on to the Defending the Proper to Set up Act — in any other case often called the PRO Act — laws that might make it simpler for staff to unionize, and her nomination is being applauded by some key labor unions.
Trump introduced Friday his plans to appoint Oregon Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer to go the Labor Division, a publish that requires Senate affirmation.
“Lori’s robust help from each the Enterprise and Labor communities will be sure that the Labor Division can unite People of all backgrounds behind our Agenda for unprecedented Nationwide Success – Making America Richer, Wealthier, Stronger and extra Affluent than ever earlier than!” Trump stated in a press release.
Chavez-DeRemer is the primary Republican girl and one of many first two Latinas to serve in Congress from the state of Oregon. The previous Comfortable Valley mayor and businesswoman misplaced her bid to regain Oregon’s fifth District earlier this month.
Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, accompanied by Majority Whip Rep. Tom Emmer and Home Majority Chief Rep. Steve Scalise, speaks at a information convention on Capitol Hill in Washington, Jan. 25, 2023.
Andrew Harnik/AP
The freshman congresswoman serves on the Home Training and the Workforce Committee, which began because the committee on training and labor over 150 years in the past. If calls to dismantle the federal Division of Training are profitable throughout the second Trump administration, Chavez-DeRemer might doubtlessly oversee teaching programs which can be redistributed to the labor division.
Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) has launched laws with a multi-year roadmap to remove the Division of Training and earmarked the division’s obligations for the Departments of Inside, Treasury, Well being and Human Companies, State, and Labor in keeping with the invoice textual content.
Chairwoman Virginia Foxx launched the next assertion congratulating her colleague on the congressional committee.
“I stay up for seeing a Division of Labor that embraces free enterprise insurance policies so staff and job creators can flourish. It is time the heavy hand of the federal authorities bought out of the best way. As an alternative of punitive, overzealous, job-killing rules it is time to unleash America’s ingenuity and entrepreneurial spirit.”
The choice of Chavez-DeRemer can also be being applauded by some key labor unions.
The Nationwide Training Affiliation (NEA), the nation’s largest skilled worker group, applauded the nomination.
“Throughout her time in Congress, Lori Chavez-DeRemer voted towards gutting the Division of Training, towards college vouchers, and towards cuts to training funding. She cosponsored the Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act, the PRO Act, and different pro-student, pro-public college, pro-worker laws,” NEA President Becky Pringle stated in a press release.
The PRO Act would develop labor protections relating to staff’ rights to type unions within the office. Chavez-DeRemer, who signed on to co-sponsor the invoice this summer time, is one among simply three Republicans within the Home to take action.
“This file stands in stark distinction to Donald Trump’s anti-worker, anti-union file, and his excessive Venture 2025 agenda that might intestine office protections, make it more durable for staff to unionize, and diminish the voice of working folks,” Pringle added.
She added, “Educators and dealing households throughout the nation will likely be watching Lori Chavez-DeRemer as she strikes by way of the affirmation course of and hope to listen to a pledge from her to proceed to face up for staff and college students as her file suggests, not blind loyalty to the Venture 2025 agenda.”
Sean O’Brien, president of the Teamsters union, who spoke on the Republican Nationwide Conference in July, had reportedly been pushing for Trump to appoint Chavez-DeRemer to the publish.
After the nomination was introduced, O’Brien posted a congratulatory message on the social media platform, X.
