WASHINGTON — The Senate confirmed Lori Chavez-DeRemer to guide the Division of Labor in a bipartisan vote Monday, all however finalizing President Trump’s cupboard.
The higher chamber voted 67-32 in favor of Trump’s nominee, with 50 Republicans and 17 Democrats in help.
Former Senate Majority Chief Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Sen. Ted Budd (R-NC) joined with 29 Democrats in opposition. Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) didn’t forged a vote.
The affirmation means solely Trump’s decide for US ambassador to the UN, New York Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik, awaits Senate approval.
Chavez-DeRemer — a 56-year-old ex-congresswoman from Oregon who was defeated by Democratic now-Rep. Janelle Bynum in November — will now helm a division of practically 18,000 staff with a funds of greater than $15 billion.
The Senate twice blocked Chavez-DeRemer’s predecessor, Julie Su, from affirmation over bipartisan objections earlier than lastly OK’ing her. Opposition to Su included detractors equivalent to former Democrat-turned-independent West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin, who took difficulty along with her cozying as much as labor unions and having a really “progressive background.”
“The Biden administration used its authority as a weapon in opposition to employees, threatening their potential to earn a residing and supply for his or her households,” Senate Well being, Training, Labor and Pensions Committee Chairman Invoice Cassidy (R-La.) stated Monday of the Su years.
“With President Trump again in workplace, now we have a chance to enact a pro-America agenda on the Division of Labor that places employees first, now we have a chance to enact a pro-America agenda on the Division of Labor that places employees first,” added Cassidy, whose panel vetted Chavez-DeRemer.
“Secretary Chavez-DeRemer is dedicated to this mission and able to work with the HELP Committee to safe a greater future for all employees.”
Nonetheless, some Republicans had initially balked at Chavez-DeRemer’s previous help for the proposed Defending the Proper to Arrange (PRO) Act.
The proposed laws, which was touted by former President Joe Biden however blocked by Republicans within the Home, would have ended authorized protections for workers at unionized work locations who don’t want to be part of a union or pay dues.
Paul, a libertarian-leaning lawmaker, was the one GOPer to vote down Chavez-DeRemer’s nomination in committee — even after she reversed help for the pro-union regulation below sharp questioning from him.
Democratic Sens. Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, John Hickenlooper of Colorado and Tim Kaine of Virginia crossed the aisle to vote her by within the HELP Committee, celebrating her bipartisan file and {qualifications} for the position after greater than a decade in native and state politics in Oregon.
Chavez-DeRemer picked up much more help final week when she cleared a procedural vote within the Senate, with 15 Democratic senators becoming a member of Republicans to advance her nomination.
Some highly effective unions equivalent to the Worldwide Brotherhood of Teamsters, the place her father labored for 30 years, and the Worldwide Longshoreman’s Affiliation additionally backed her nomination.
As for Stefanik, her vote has been delayed, given the razor-thin margin Republicans at the moment maintain within the Home. She has but to resign from the decrease chamber for the total affirmation course of.
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