By Mitch Coppes, Federal Government Affairs Manager, Goodwill Industries International
The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee voted to advance the nomination of Lori Chavez-DeRemer to be the next Secretary of Labor. The former U.S. Representative from Oregon received bipartisan support in the committee and her nomination will now be considered by the full Senate.
During her confirmation hearing before the Senate HELP Committee, Chavez-DeRemer spoke about recent disruptions to the workforce and the need for investment in pathways to careers. “To rebuild confidence and strengthen our workforce, we must invest in educational pathways beyond the traditional four-year degree, ensuring that every American worker has access to the skills and training for long-term success,” said Chavez-DeRemer.
She expressed support for the reauthorization of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and noted that she served on the Education and Labor Committee during her term in the House of Representatives when the chamber passed a bipartisan WIOA reauthorization bill. She also spoke about the importance of expanding apprenticeship and youth apprenticeship opportunities.
Chavez-DeRemer was pressed by Democrats on the committee to pledge that, if confirmed as secretary, she would not attempt to withhold Department of Labor funding appropriated by congress from being disbursed to grant recipients and contractors. Their concerns stem from a memo issued by the Trump Administration in January ordering government agencies to temporarily freeze all federal funding. Federal courts have intervened to block the funding freeze from taking effect pending the outcomes of multiple legal challenges brought against the administration by nonprofit organizations, states and other stakeholder groups.
The HELP Committee also voted to advance the nomination of former Small Business Administrator Linda McMahon to serve as Secretary of Education. While President Trump has called for the elimination of the Department of Education, McMahon acknowledged in her confirmation hearing that downsizing or closing the department would require congressional approval. She also expressed support for expanding Pell Grants to short-term training and credentialing programs. GII endorsed the bipartisan Jumpstarting Our Businesses by Supporting Students (JOBS) Act to extend Pell Grant eligibility to students enrolled in short-term programs that lead to market-valued credentials. Learn more on our Legislative Action Center.
