Washington — The Senate is set to vote on Monday regarding former GOP Representative Lori Chavez-DeRemer’s nomination to head the Labor Department under President Trump.
Chavez-DeRemer completed one two-year term in the House, marking the distinction of being the first Republican woman to represent Oregon in Congress. Following her defeat in the re-election race in November, President Trump nominated her for the position of labor secretary, with her confirmation vote occurring as most of the president’s Cabinet appointments have been successfully confirmed by the Senate.
Despite her history of backing pro-labor initiatives, Chavez-DeRemer’s confirmation seemed uncertain at one point. Republican Senator Rand Paul from Kentucky voiced opposition to her nomination and predicted in January that she would face backlash from over a dozen Republicans. However, she appeared likely to secure confirmation on Monday, receiving support from both parties.
Chavez-DeRemer was among the few Republicans who backed the Protecting the Right to Organize Act, or PRO Act, a legislative proposal aimed at facilitating worker unionization introduced in the previous Congress. During her confirmation hearing last month, she addressed her earlier endorsement of the bill, acknowledging its “imperfect” nature while also supporting right-to-work laws that give workers the option to join or abstain from union membership.
