Chavez-DeRemer Withdraws PRO Act Support During Labor Secretary Hearing

Chavez-DeRemer Withdraws Support for PRO Act During Senate Hearing

During a Senate confirmation hearing held on February 19, former Representative Lori Chavez-DeRemer indicated a shift in her stance regarding the PRO Act, a significant labor legislation aimed at facilitating unionization. Chavez-DeRemer, who served Oregon’s 5th district from 2023 to 2025, initially co-sponsored the bill, standing out as one of only three House Republicans to do so.

The PRO Act, a labor-endorsed bill, seeks to simplify the unionization process for workers while imposing stringent penalties on companies hindering such efforts. Chavez-DeRemer’s initial support for the bill has been a contentious issue among Republican senators, who largely oppose the measure. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY), a member of the labor committee, expressed likely opposition to her nomination for Labor Secretary, suggesting her confirmation might necessitate Democratic backing.

When questioned by Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) about her current position on the PRO Act, Chavez-DeRemer clarified that her past support was politically motivated and that she would refrain from endorsing the bill in her prospective role as Labor Secretary. She stated, “I do not believe that the Secretary of Labor should write the laws. It will be up to Congress to write the laws and work together … But I was working for Oregon’s 5th congressional district and representing that. I just wanted to be at that table. I never want to be left out of a conversation where we can talk about the American worker and how important that is.”

Chavez-DeRemer also referred to the PRO Act as “imperfect.” Her stance was further underscored when she did not contest Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) during his remarks suggesting her withdrawal of support for the bill.

After an unsuccessful reelection bid against Democrat Janelle Bynum in 2024, Chavez-DeRemer was nominated for the role of Labor Secretary by President Donald Trump on November 22. This nomination garnered praise from some labor organizations, such as the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, despite Trump’s track record of appointing officials with opposing viewpoints on workers’ rights.

In contrast, some of Trump’s other cabinet members, like Attorney General Pam Bondi, have supported legislation such as Florida’s right-to-work laws, criticized for weakening union influence and potentially worsening labor conditions. Other administration figures, including Vice President J.D. Vance, have received low ratings from labor groups, with Vance earning a 0% score from the AFL-CIO based on his Senate voting record since 2023.

While Chavez-DeRemer secured endorsements from certain labor unions during her reelection campaign, such as the Teamsters and the Association of Flight Attendants, her opponent, Bynum, was backed by larger labor organizations like AFSME, AFL-CIO, SIEU, and the United Auto Workers.