Several Senate Democrats joined almost every Republican to confirm Lori Chavez-DeRemer, 67-32, as Labor secretary on Monday.
Chavez-DeRemer, a former one-term Republican House member from Oregon, overcame misgivings from some Republicans over her co-sponsorship of legislation in the last Congress that would have made it easier for workers to join a union.
She backed away from the bill during her Feb. 19 confirmation hearing before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. She told lawmakers she signed on to the bill in order to be part of congressional efforts to update labor laws.
The committee advanced her nomination, 14-9, in a Feb. 27 vote.
Committee Chair Bill Cassidy, R-La., said before the panel’s vote that he looked forward to a Labor Department that pursues a “pro-America agenda that puts workers first. Over the last several weeks, Rep. Chavez-DeRemer demonstrated her commitment to this mission.”
Last week on the Senate floor, Chavez-DeRemer received an endorsement from Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., who complimented her background, which includes stints as a mayor of Happy Valley, Ore., a city council member and a small-business owner.
“From her first job packing peaches at a California farm, Ms. Chavez-DeRemer has known the value of a hard day’s work, and in her public service, she has put in the work to seek differing perspectives and to find common ground,” Thune said in March 5 remarks from the Senate floor.
The post Senate confirms Chavez-DeRemer for Labor secretary appeared first on Roll Call.
