Trumps labor secretary pick Lori Chavez-DeRemer clears committee in bipartisan vote

WASHINGTON — President Trump’s pick to lead the Labor Department easily cleared Senate committee vetting in a bipartisan vote on Thursday and will head to the upper chamber for final confirmation, likely next week.Lori Chavez-DeRemer, a former Republican congresswoman from Oregon, was approved 14-9 by members of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee.Democratic Sens.Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, John Hickenlooper of Colorado and Tim Kaine of Virginia broke with their party to support Chavez-DeRemer.The libertarian-leaning Sen.

Rand Paul of Kentucky was the lone Republican opposing the nominee.Chavez-DeRemer, 56, lost her bid for re-election in November after serving a single House term.The nominee had faced opposition from Paul and other Republicans for being one of three House GOPers to co-sponsor the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, which would have ended legal protections for employees at unionized workplaces who don’t wish to join a union or pay dues.Almost all congressional Republicans were staunchly opposed to the bill, claiming it would undo so-called “right-to-work” laws in roughly half of US states that protect employees from being forced into participating in unions.Former President Joe Biden tried to pass the PRO Act as part of his pro-union agenda — but it was blocked in committee by the Republican-controlled House.Chavez-DeRemer reversed her support for the legislation during her confirmation hearing but was still able to nab some Democratic backing — though committee ranking member Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) withheld his support after the PRO Act reversal.Hassan, representing neighboring New Hampshire, became the first Democrat to come out in favor of Trump’s nominee on Tuesday.“The Department of Labor plays an integral role in supporting workers and small businesses alike, and after hearing significant support from constituents, including members of labor unions in New Hampshire, I will support R...