[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},"mediaId",6306199,"mediaKeyId","2439735-e27b5db5063ce69d53aacd715c876c04","parentId",2439735,"title","Nominee backs expanded registered apprenticeships and pledges to work on H‑2 visa caps, including seasonal exemptions for seafood processors","audioSeconds",3633,"startMs",3692000,"endMs",7325000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2439735-e27b5db5063ce69d53aacd715c876c04&start=3692&end=7325","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2439735-e27b5db5063ce69d53aacd715c876c04/thumbnail_3692000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6306199/Nominee-backs-expanded-registered-apprenticeships-and-pledges-to-work-on-H2-visa-caps-including-seasonal-exemptions-for-seafood-processors","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6306199-7c9e0aeb5548955277766fc56cf2bcb7/orig.mp4?Expires=1770960863&Signature=lviyA6pxY--HE-AMmn~-R8wkwz01KVtLvC5XkOwC~VhvksRBcMWkvpCEdGaZUBLFLlOwJbjoepEwuKjlwDjWcreh8CezFSgg4cAMM02xT1L0Ucoq~sgterX4Pex~o96--xck7Chz4Ls338u0xcxO1GS1VOW3OwLB7lJITd0wbm~ix4zZ~-WVy7~C6IQJIH~Ry1DnyAQDduKJgJpxN-GoUcYKxLf6Av28VuSyDah~dLbXI4YzIyODKeka-euzC4fQTCaPxrCc3t4AkHfUtDEenioEabYd6Gasrn7L1GkU8pm2MqMmOC4r5mI75OIkKohTY5hoFp6Lk3rYpK5AcxZFVA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions","date","2025-02-19T00:00:00Z","article","Representative Lori Chavez de Remer, President Trump’s nominee for secretary of labor, told the Senate HELP Committee she will prioritize registered apprenticeship expansion and workforce training while working with Congress and other agencies on seasonal guest‑worker visa issues.

Multiple senators from states with seasonal industries — including Senator Susan Collins (Maine) and Senator Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) — asked Chavez de Remer to commit to supporting apprenticeship funding and to make maximum H‑2B visas available where Congress authorizes discretionary increases. Collins asked whether the nominee would make available “the maximum amount of H‑2B visas that Congress authorizes.” Chavez de Remer replied she would “work with the Department of Homeland Security…in looking at those caps” and would coordinate with the Department of State and Congress on the issue.

Murkowski asked the nominee to consider an exemption for seafood processors from H‑2B caps and pledged to work with the nominee on legislation; Chavez de Remer said, “Yes, ma'am. I will commit to working with you specifically on this issue.”

On apprenticeships, senators from both parties pressed for increased investment in registered apprenticeships and apprenticeships targeted to rural communities. Chavez de Remer said she supports registered programs, promised to enforce appropriations language that restricts apprenticeship funding to registered programs, and proposed exploring an ARPA‑style “ARPA‑L” accelerator at DOL to spur workforce innovation. She told Senator Tammy Baldwin she would “work with you” to ensure funding is used as Congress intended.

The nominee repeatedly described workforce development as a bipartisan priority, and she tied apprenticeship expansion to broader “America First” goals of increasing manufacturing and productivity while offering alternatives to four‑year degrees.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Nomination of Lori M. Chavez-DeRemer to serve as Secretary of Labor ","oneSentenceSummary","Lori Chavez de Remer told senators she supports increasing registered apprenticeships and pledged to work with lawmakers and other agencies on H‑2A and H‑2B visa caps, including specific seasonal needs cited by Alaska and Maine senators.","taxTitle","Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: Senate Committee, Standing Committees - House & Senate, Congressional Hearings Compilation, Legislative, Federal","taxId",1995,"location","","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6306204,"Nominee pledges to ‘double down’ on child labor enforcement if confirmed",65,3262000,3327000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2439735-e27b5db5063ce69d53aacd715c876c04&start=3262&end=3327","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2439735-e27b5db5063ce69d53aacd715c876c04/thumbnail_3262000.jpg","/articles/6306204/Nominee-pledges-to-double-down-on-child-labor-enforcement-if-confirmed","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6306204-403708073ee288bfa70975162f923946/orig.mp4?Expires=1770960863&Signature=EI-gec2GgyN6-tIEH6yseKBoRWMYdaFzFZIO0NTBuxMSa1-tdaEFYklHHzdtJDszbwCD0WWMYEOdRLkGaJXMfIutALiEsQ8CJzFeGrI1XjyMutVepH2ao0zlBmpyYQY6R28~7b9matdCa1hOWTVPyuk6Oi0229JKgfKpNPPs~4Gfoz6~HwKbVKU45Odr9sLCj3fJrxkMlqCyxuBnQVNIBLVQy5hl4vRzg4biFX2R9ngIov4oY-NOWTfmCVwmLmvTcCEBykmOPzc3euy0ZztzrWyw9t~IqqaQoTqsXdWIvfdMbebJUGVd32MnFMUy1MIJ0cXOTWi-qLWIlQKqLqGZKg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Concerned senators used the nomination hearing to press Representative Lori Chavez de Remer on enforcement of child labor laws and the increase in violations in recent years.

Senator Patty Murray and others noted a reported 31% increase since 2019 in minors employed in violation of federal child labor laws. Murray asked how Chavez de Remer would ensure the Wage and Hour Division and the Department of Labor solicitor’s office work together to enforce those laws. The nominee called child labor “abhorrent” and said she would “do everything in my power within the Department of Labor to double down on the safety of all American workers that are exploited, but especially child labor.” She offered to work with senators’ offices on the issue.

Other senators tied child labor concerns to border and immigration issues; members from multiple states described children entering the country who had been vulnerable to trafficking and exploitation. Chavez de Remer said she “100% commit[ted] to…work with you, your office and any other office in order to protect those children.”

The nominee said she expected to consult with agency experts and solicitors and to press for enforcement resources if confirmed. Senators urged stronger penalties and more vigorous inspections for employers who exploit minors; some lawmakers said they would pursue legislation to increase penalties for such violations.","Representative Lori Chavez de Remer told senators she would prioritize protecting minors from labor exploitation and work with Congress and agency staff to strengthen enforcement of child labor laws.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6306209,"Senators press nominee on Department of Labor data access after reports that Elon Musk-linked developers accessed sensitive systems",127,3117000,3244000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2439735-e27b5db5063ce69d53aacd715c876c04&start=3117&end=3244","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2439735-e27b5db5063ce69d53aacd715c876c04/thumbnail_3117000.jpg","/articles/6306209/Senators-press-nominee-on-Department-of-Labor-data-access-after-reports-that-Elon-Musk-linked-developers-accessed-sensitive-systems","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6306209-c5ac7e0e5a0ae4e2f2eb1cae5d598fb7/orig.mp4?Expires=1770960863&Signature=K6MSe1LM5o1wDDrK~xxELmHyrtRv65OH4xCsjf7UFsubnSZWRf9lUmq4M4y0mYqo1FZpQ-NWQX7TuWxGy~Wox4rINjo5OexCOIp-JyrsYjZLc8xQSDfVSUhubA-UWzL3ZtjD3SuLaPCFd4e7d30TXEk9cehrB-xdMm2hX8jP-qqxoeH5jMbyTcMPMiuQVyzbd-deK0wWSo64KimiBdpRctnk6i4AWSYtlRt6qKW~dsjv0xibagg6h2eTmd6HI8qjyzX6SMD9opY5rKb~~WesEJQFQaGzpw0uqBNqhB41AOs6H1u6odbTB9To2te3LijBzZpk2Ss0G65ecsp3Gf3V0Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senators from both parties pressed President Trump’s labor secretary nominee, Representative Lori Chavez de Remer, on whether she would protect private data held by the Department of Labor and deny private companies or their representatives access to sensitive information while investigations are pending.

Senator Patty Murray detailed reports that a private team linked to Elon Musk had obtained access to DOL systems, including OSHA investigations and Bureau of Labor Statistics data. She said the access could allow a private company under investigation to manipulate or obtain confidential records and asked the nominee to commit to denying such access. Chavez de Remer said she had not been briefed on the matter and could not yet speak to specifics, but if confirmed she “commit[ted] to you that I will always protect the Department of Labor, and those issues.”

Senator Chris Murphy pressed for a firm pledge: “Will you commit to denying access to Elon Musk or any of his representatives to information about labor violations at OSHA or any other information about labor violation investigations at the Department of Labor?” The nominee declined to make an immediate hard commitment, saying she had not been read into the underlying facts and would consult agency counsel and the White House if confirmed. She told the committee she would “come back as soon as I if confirmed and I'm in the Department of Labor coming back and answering those questions to this committee wholeheartedly.”

Chavez de Remer framed her response around following the law and consulting with agency solicitors and White House counsel before making operational commitments. Multiple senators expressed concern that granting private sector access to sensitive investigations risked insider trading, manipulation of market‑moving data and the erosion of public trust.","Lawmakers asked Representative Lori Chavez de Remer whether she would prevent private actors from accessing Department of Labor investigations and confidential datasets after testimony that an outside company had obtained access to sensitive DOL systems.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6306213,"Labor nominee Lori Chavez de Remer distances herself from parts of PRO Act, vows to enforce law neutrally",735,2241000,2976000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2439735-e27b5db5063ce69d53aacd715c876c04&start=2241&end=2976","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2439735-e27b5db5063ce69d53aacd715c876c04/thumbnail_2241000.jpg","/articles/6306213/Labor-nominee-Lori-Chavez-de-Remer-distances-herself-from-parts-of-PRO-Act-vows-to-enforce-law-neutrally","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6306213-c05d406dc4a0cc243a6d3e2084c540a4/orig.mp4?Expires=1770960863&Signature=PSsX~8ZuirHgl2HSSpso5FJxWUB5fr~PjUwHb3mmIoLQPLcSsGFJbQPkSbYMn0oD4TZ8xMK5L2lcM0HUpNRv2pESKWuYx1hpyXqUcndxn0Srn-MZFQ7bou-lsR2aPrJ25UFHYGY~G2tgsS2SK-fNa8xQaik~fWetJmY38rP5jdLqVJsrPYV728helQlUUEH6AoseaN7TTRXp2QMoSrrgBcwlb8WDlCazO2f3B~WN1i6FD~WYOh~uL3IQ2AN6Vi2t~GjVBBqA5Ga0vQmvaULOoDwxI9mjM2i4EOSoFGbna2oYDgWYQ8Q3yXTPjTW~tRtvoKoG-3FVSlsXU5womJfTtA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Lori Chavez de Remer, President Trump’s nominee for secretary of labor, told the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions on Wednesday that she had cosponsored the Protecting the Right to Organize Act as a member of Congress but would not be the “lawmaker” as secretary and would not use the Department of Labor to write legislation.

The committee’s exchanges centered on workers’ rights, unions and the status of independent contractors. Senator Bill Cassidy, the committee chairman, pressed Chavez de Remer on whether she still supported the PRO Act; she replied that she had cosponsored it to be “at that table” representing her congressional district and that the bill was “imperfect.” She said, “I do not believe that the Secretary of Labor…should write the laws. It will be up to Congress to write those laws.”

The nominee repeatedly emphasized a commitment to the American worker and to enforcing the law. She told senators, “I will not be that lawmaker anymore, but I was working for Oregon’s Fifth Congressional District and representing that.” Chavez de Remer said she respects states that have chosen right-to-work laws and later answered Senator Rand Paul that she no longer supports the PRO Act provision that would overturn state right-to-work laws: “Yes. There yes, sir.”

Senator Bernie Sanders, the committee’s senior Democrat, pressed Chavez de Remer to be an unapologetic champion of working families and asked directly whether she would favor raising the federal minimum wage; Chavez de Remer responded that wage levels are for Congress to decide and that, as secretary, she would “fully and fairly enforce the law” and provide data to inform lawmakers.

On independent contractors and franchise models, Cassidy and others cited figures used in the hearing — about 27,000,000 independent contractors and about 9,000,000 franchise‑model workers — and asked whether Chavez de Remer would commit to protecting the flexibility independent contractors say they want. She told the committee she supports clarifying joint‑employer guidance and said she “supported the overturning of the NLRB rule on joint employer to support the franchise business model.” She committed to reexamining relevant regulations if confirmed.

Chavez de Remer also expressed support for collective bargaining rights where workers choose to organize and for preserving the secret ballot in union elections. Responding to Senator Susan Collins, she said, “I do not support that portion,” referring to the PRO Act provision that would eliminate secret elections.

The hearing included repeated reassurances from the nominee that she would “follow the law” and that her door would be open to labor and business stakeholders. She framed her approach as a bridge between union and business interests and said multiple unions had expressed support for her nomination. Several senators, across the ideological spectrum, pressed for specific commitments on policies they view as central to workers’ interests.

The committee did not take any vote during the hearing; senators were seeking commitments and clarifications as part of the advice-and-consent process.","At her Senate HELP Committee confirmation hearing, President Trump’s nominee for labor secretary, Representative Lori Chavez de Remer, said she cosponsored the Protecting the Right to Organize Act as a lawmaker but would not use the Department of Labor to write laws and rejected specific PRO Act provisions while promising to enforce existing law.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Nominee backs expanded registered apprenticeships and pledges to work on H‑2 visa caps, including seasonal exemptions for seafood processors

Nominee pledges to ‘double down’ on child labor enforcement if confirmed

Senators press nominee on Department of Labor data access after reports that Elon Musk-linked developers accessed sensitive systems

Labor nominee Lori Chavez de Remer distances herself from parts of PRO Act, vows to enforce law neutrally