President-elect Trump will appoint Rep. Lori Chavez Delemer (R-Ore.), who has strong support from labor unions, as Secretary of Labor, who is in her second term in the White House, and who is in her first term as Labor Secretary. Nominated.
President Trump's selection of Chavez Delemer to head the Department of Labor (DOL) is one of the president-elect's final cabinet picks. Oregon's representative must be confirmed through the Republican-controlled Senate next January, after President Trump settles into the Oval Office and Congress begins a new session.
Here's what you need to know about Chavez Delemer.
Secretary of Labor nods.
Chavez Delemer was nominated by President Trump to lead the DOL on Friday. The president-elect praised her for “working tirelessly with both businesses and workers to develop America's workforce and support America's hardworking men and women.”
In Friday's announcement, President Trump said he would “work with her to create tremendous opportunity for American workers, expand training and apprenticeships, raise wages and improve working conditions, and bring back manufacturing jobs.” We look forward to doing so,” he said in an announcement Friday.
Her candidacy for the post was supported by the International Teamsters Union and others. Teamsters President Sean O'Brien wrote an editorial In Compact magazine, released Thursday, he endorsed the Oregon Republican even though the union doesn't agree with her “on everything.”
“Last year, when we negotiated a historic contract with UPS, she supported Teamsters across Oregon and the country. We have worked hard to expand opportunities,” O’Brien wrote. “And as a member of the Congressional Building Trades Caucus, she has rallied construction industry leaders to improve conditions on the job site.”
A short stint on Capitol Hill
Chavez Delemer represented Oregon's 5th Congressional District in the 118th Congress. She won re-election earlier this month, losing by two points to Democrat Janelle Bynum in one of the most competitive races of the season.
During his brief tenure on Capitol Hill, Chavez Deremever portrayed himself as a moderate Republican who welcomed bipartisanship. Aside from the focus on labor, Oregon representatives also expressed support for: invoice It would increase the severity of fentanyl trafficking and ultimately protect responders who may be exposed to fentanyl.
She alsosponsored Working with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (New York) on reforming federal cannabis laws.
Pro-labor record
The Oregon Republican has pitched himself as an ardent supporter of organized labor and labor rights during his time in Congress.
Chavez Delemer is one of three Republican co-sponsors of the Protecting the Right to Organize Act (PRO), a bill that would increase penalties for employers who violate labor laws and make it easier to unionize. It was. The bill passed the House when Democrats held the majority, but did not gain enough support in the Senate.
She also co-sponsored the Civil Service Freedom to Bargain Act. invoice This would expand the powers of public sector unions. Additionally, Chávez Delemer supported a bill that protects public sector workers from having their Social Security benefits reduced.
Support for trade union leaders
Chávez Delemer has received support from labor unions during his time as a lawmaker and during his campaign.
After Trump was elected president on Friday, O'Brien thanked the president-elect for his choice and congratulated the Republican on his bid.
North America's strongest union stands ready to work with you every step of the way to grow good union jobs and rebuild our nation's middle class,'' O'Brien said. I wrote At X. “Let's get to work!”
AFL-CIO President Liz Schuller was praised Chavez Delemer praised her for having “built a track record of supporting workers in Congress,” but added, “Mr. Trump is the next president of the United States, not Rep. Chavez Delemer. What will she be allowed to do? “We don't know yet,” he warned. To serve as Secretary of Labor in an administration with dramatic anti-worker policies. ”
Schuller said the union “will work with anyone who wants to do what's right for workers, but they're willing to roll back the rights and protections that workers have won through decades of blood, sweat and tears.” We will reject and defeat any attempt to do so.”
But the Oregon Republican has faced criticism from Democrats and some conservatives on labor and other issues. The conservative-leaning think tank Competitive Enterprise Institute accused her of supporting the PRO Act.
“It is difficult to predict what she will do as a Cabinet member, but what we do know is not reassuring. In any case, the Cabinet Secretariat should not be a place for on-the-job training. Trump will continue to “It's worth paying attention to,” said Sean Higgins, a research fellow at the Competitive Enterprise Institute. I wrote.
During this year's campaign, Chavez-Delemer sought the support of labor unions. She scored more than 20 points, include From Teamsters Joint Council No. 37.
After Friday's announcement, National Education Association President Becky Pringle praised the lawmaker's record on labor issues. warned It stands in stark contrast to Donald Trump's anti-worker, anti-union record and extreme Project 2025 policies that destroy workplace protections, make it harder for workers to unionize, and weaken the voices of working people. There is,” he said.
Pringle said, “Educators and working families across the country are watching Lori Chavez Delemer move through the confirmation process, and her record shows that she is working hard to protect workers and students. I look forward to hearing your pledge to continue to stand up for the cause.” Blind loyalty to the Project 2025 agenda. ”
Careers in Oregon Municipalities
Mr. Chavez Delemer has over 10 years of public service experience. Prior to representing Oregon's 5th Congressional District, Chavez Delemer served on the Happy Valley City Council, first elected in the early 2000s. In 2010 she was elected mayor of the suburb. She was re-elected in 2014.
She lost to Mr. Bynum twice when she ran for state representative. When she was elected to the House of Representatives, became First Republican woman to represent Oregon in the House of Representatives.
