WASHINGTON — A Republican-led Senate committee held a confirmation hearing Wednesday for President Donald Trump’s nominee for labor secretary, Lori Chavez-DeRemer.
"In every role, my priority has been clear: to fight for the American worker and the business that drive our economy," she said in her opening remarks.
Chavez-DeRemer, a former congresswoman from Oregon who served one term, is an unconventional pick for a GOP president. She supported a bill called the PRO Act, a top priority of labor unions, and is endorsed by the Teamsters Union.
“Working people need someone with her experience leading the agency that is tasked with protecting workers, creating good union jobs, and rebuilding our nation’s middle class,” Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien, who spoke at the Republican National Convention last year, said in a statement. “The Teamsters are grateful to President Trump for putting American workers first by nominating Rep. Chavez-DeRemer to this important role.”
Several of the senators' opening questions zeroed in on the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act of 2023, which Chavez-DeRemer co-sponsored in the House.
The bill aimed to promote unions' ability to organize, alter independent contractor classifications and weaken so-called right-to-work laws in states. “Right-to-work” laws are often characterized as guaranteeing employees do not have to join unions or pay union dues as an employment condition.
Chavez-DeRemer addressed her support for the PRO Act during her opening statement, saying the bill provided a way to have conversations about needed updates to labor laws.
“I recognize that that bill wasn’t perfect, and I also recognize that I am no longer representing Oregon as a lawmaker,” she said. “If confirmed, my job will be to implement President Trump’s policy division, and my guiding principle will be President Trump’s guiding principle, ensuring a level playing field for businesses, unions and, most importantly, the American worker.”
Multiple senators questioned her about her current position on the bill. Chavez-DeRemer said she “fully” supported states that “want to protect their right to work.”
“So you no longer support the aspect of the PRO Act that would’ve overturned state right-to-work laws?” asked Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., who has said he would not support Chavez-DeRemer's nomination.
“Yeah,” she said quietly, moving to expand on her answer before Paul cut her off.
“That’s a yes?” he asked.
“Yes,” she confirmed.
Later, Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., asked Chavez-DeRemer about whether Elon Musk should have access to labor violation investigations. Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency has sought internal government data.
"I have not been read in on any of this, and if confirmed, I commit to taking a deeper look and working with your office and any other office on this issue," she said.
Pressed further, she said that "the president has the executive power to exercise it as he sees fit," adding that she "will serve at the pleasure of the president on this issue."
Chavez-DeRemer also faced a question from Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., about her previous work at Planned Parenthood and where she stood on abortion. NBC News reported last week that Chavez-DeRemer worked at a Planned Parenthood clinic in her early 20s.
“I am supportive of the president’s agenda,” she said. “I have a 100% pro-life voting record in Congress, and I will continue to support the America-first agenda, which we know includes life.”
Chavez-DeRemer's profile has landed her in hot water with multiple Senate Republicans, who strongly oppose the PRO Act and have cast wary eyes on her.
