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Feb. 19 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump's nominee for U.S. Labor secretary advanced out of a key Senate committee on the way to a likely confirmation after last week's vote was postponed due to snow. Members of the Senate's Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee wrapped up confirmation hearings Wednesday morning on the nomination of former Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, R-Ore., after a little more than two hours of questioning.
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"If confirmed, my job will be to implement President Trump's policy division, and my guiding principle will be President Trump's guiding principle, ensuring a level playing field for businesses, unions and, most importantly, the American worker," the Oregon Republican stated in her opening remarks.
Trump in November announced the former one-term House member from 2023-2025 was his pick to lead the U.S. Department of Labor.
Lawmakers grilled her on a number of topics such as the stagnant minimum wage, pro-labor legislation and protecting private or otherwise sensitive government data.
Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., who sits on the HELP committee, says he will oppose her nomination due to her prior voice of support for pro-labor government policy as one of only three Republicans to support the Protecting the Right to Organize Act, or PRO Act. The bill was passed by the Democrat-controlled House in 2021 but opposed by Republicans with 205 GOP House members voting against it.
However, she retraced her support for key PRO Act provision, saying now she "fully" supported states that "want to protect their right to work."
On Wednesday, New Jersey's freshman Democrat Sen. Andy Kim pressed her on a number of topics such as affordable housing and if the $7.25 federal minimum wage was enough for American citizens to live on.
"I just want to ask you, do you think that there is a state in this country where someone can live comfortably on their own for $15,000 a year?" Kim asked her.
"Well, I don't know if there is, but I would look to work with Congress," Chavez-DeRemer replied, adding it is "a congressional issue."
Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., expressed concern over her past work at Planned Parenthood, at one point directly asking Chavez-DeRemer if she's "pro-life or pro-choice."
"I am supportive of the president's agenda," she told the Alabama conservative. "I have a 100% pro-life voting record in Congress, and I will continue to support the America-first agenda, which we know includes life."
Amid an Elon Musk-lead gutting of multiple federal agencies by his controversial Department of Government Efficiency, Chavez-DeRemer claimed that she has "not been privy to those conversations with the president" regarding Musk's DOGE. But when pressed on the topic, stated, "I would protect the private information on this issue" as DOGE now seeks access to private IRS files on U.S. citizens.
"Will you be a rubber stamp for the anti-worker agenda of Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and other multibillionaires who are blatantly anti-union, they don't make any bones about it, or will you stand with working families all over the country?" asked ranking HELP committee member Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.
"That is really the main issue. It's not just your record. This is an unusual administration. In my view, we are moving toward an authoritarian society where one person has enormous power. Will you have the courage to say, Mr. President, that is unconstitutional, that is wrong, I will not stand with you."
