Pro-union Trump labor pick to face grilling as at least one Republican vows to oppose her

Former Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, a pro-union Republican, is set to appear before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) on Wednesday for a confirmation hearing to become the next Secretary of Labor. President Donald Trump’s nominee will face tough questions from committee senators starting at 10 a.m.

One of Chavez-DeRemer’s main opponents in the confirmation process is Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., who is a member of the HELP committee. Paul has expressed concerns about Chavez-DeRemer’s support for the PRO Act, a piece of legislation that would override state laws prohibiting mandatory union dues. Paul has indicated that he will vote against her nomination due to this stance on the PRO Act.

The PRO Act, introduced in Congress several years ago, aims to protect union workers by allowing unions and employers to require workers to pay union dues as a condition of employment. This directly conflicts with state-level Right-to-Work laws that many Republicans, including Paul, support. Chavez-DeRemer’s support for the PRO Act has raised red flags for Paul and other Republicans.

Despite Paul’s opposition, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., has hinted that Chavez-DeRemer will have the opportunity to clarify her position on the PRO Act during the confirmation hearing. Thune emphasized that support for the PRO Act has not been historically accepted by Republicans, and Chavez-DeRemer will need to address this issue to garner support from the committee.

If Paul decides to vote against Chavez-DeRemer or abstain from voting during the committee meeting, her nomination could still proceed to a full Senate vote without a favorable recommendation from the committee. In that case, Chavez-DeRemer would need to secure 60 votes in the Senate for confirmation.

President Trump announced Chavez-DeRemer as his pick for Secretary of Labor following his election in November. Trump praised her for her work with both business and labor communities to support American workers and improve working conditions. Chavez-DeRemer’s nomination represents Trump’s commitment to fostering cooperation between business and labor to benefit American workers.

As Chavez-DeRemer prepares to face the Senate HELP committee, all eyes will be on how she addresses concerns about her support for the PRO Act and her ability to unite Americans behind the administration’s agenda for economic success. The confirmation hearing will be a pivotal moment in determining Chavez-DeRemer’s path to becoming the next Secretary of Labor.