Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) expressed a willingness to consider supporting President-elect Trump’s nominee for Labor secretary, Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-Ore.), on Friday.
As chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Murray emphasized the importance of having a Labor secretary who understands that strengthening the economy requires advocating for workers rather than billionaires and large corporations. She stressed that Americans deserve leadership focused on protecting the rights of the workforce.
In a statement released shortly after the announcement, Murray elaborated, saying, “We need a Labor Secretary who will protect workers’ rights, ensure secure retirements, guarantee full pay for all workers, and treat everyone with the dignity and respect they deserve.”
Sen. Patty Murray signals potential support for Lori Chavez-DeRemer as Labor Secretary
Murray, who also serves as Senate president pro tempore, expressed her satisfaction with Chavez-DeRemer cosponsoring the PRO Act, which she co-authored with Rep. Bobby Scott. She indicated that she looks forward to a thorough evaluation of Chavez-DeRemer’s qualifications before the confirmation hearing.
Though Chavez-DeRemer lost her reelection bid to Democrat Janelle Bynum earlier this month, the Oregon Republican has emerged as a vocal advocate for labor rights and organized labor. During her time in Congress, she co-sponsored the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, which seeks to expand labor protections and ease the process of unionization.
Her efforts earned the support of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, whose president, Sean O’Brien, spoke at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee this summer. The union has since refrained from endorsing any candidate in the upcoming presidential election.
Murray, however, has been critical of other members of Trump’s Cabinet picks. Last week, she referred to Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump’s choice for Secretary of Health and Human Services, as a “fringe conspiracy theorist.”
Murray warned, “There is no telling how far a fringe conspiracy theorist like RFK Jr. could set back America in terms of public health, reproductive rights, research and innovation, and so much else.” She emphasized that the stakes are high, noting that public health, healthcare access, and research are life-or-death issues, especially after the painful lessons learned from the COVID pandemic.
