Lori Chavez-DeRemer’s bid to lead the Labor Department cleared a key procedural hurdle on Thursday — the last major step before a confirmation vote on the Senate floor.
The Senate voted 66-30 to end debate on the former GOP representative’s nomination to serve as President Donald Trump’s Labor secretary, one week after she advanced out of the Senate HELP Committee with bipartisan support.
Though her confirmation has not been as contentious as other high-profile Trump administration officials, Chavez-DeRemer will be the last Cabinet secretary to arrive. Still, she’s already attended a recent Cabinet meeting at the White House and Trump’s joint address to Congress this week.
Chavez-DeRemer’s selection was a nod from Trump to the inroads he made with working-class voters, including rank-and-file union members.
Chavez-DeRemer has the backing of several labor unions. She also co-sponsored a suite of labor law reforms known as the PRO Act during her time in Congress — but she walked back that support during her confirmation hearing amid concerns from business-friendly Republicans.
Earleir in the day, the Senate HELP Committee advanced Keith Sonderling’s nomination for deputy Labor secretary to a full floor vote.
