Trump's nominee for Labor secretary walks back support for PRO Act, embraces Republican Right-to-Work laws
Lori Chavez-DeRemer, the pro-union Republican tapped by President Donald Trump for Labor secretary, testified before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) on Wednesday, fielding questions from senators about her support for the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act.
Chavez-DeRemer supported the PRO Act as a representative for Oregon's 5th congressional district. She told senators on Wednesday she no longer supports the aspect of the PRO Act that would have overturned Republican-backed Right-to-Work laws, which could earn her the favor of some Republican senators who were reluctant to confirm her nomination.
The PRO Act would effectively kill state-level laws that prevent employers and unions from requiring workers to pay union dues as a condition of their employment. Republicans, including Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., opposed the PRO Act for overturning Right-to-Work laws. Paul said he would not support her if she continued to support the PRO Act.
"If she wanted to make a public statement saying that her support for the PRO Act was incorrect and she no longer does, then I'd think about her nomination," Paul told Fox News Digital in a statement ahead of Chavez-DeRemer's hearing.
Pro-union Trump Nominee Faces Senate Grilling As At Least One Republican Vows To Oppose Her
As a member of the HELP committee, Paul had the opportunity to question Chavez-DeRemer about the PRO Act on Wednesday.
Read On The Fox News App
Senate Advances Nomination Of Kash Patel, Trump's Pick For Fbi Director
"So you no longer support the aspect of the PRO Act that would have overturned state Right-to-Work laws?" Paul asked during the hearing.
Chavez-DeRemer agreed she no longer supports the aspect of the PRO Act that would have overturned the state's Right-to-Work laws, replying, "Yes, sir."
"Like President Trump, I believe our labor laws need to be updated and modernized to reflect today's workforce and the business environment," Chavez-DeRemer said on Wednesday. "As a member of Congress, the PRO Act was the bill to have those conversations that mattered deeply to the people of Oregon's 5th congressional district. I recognize that that bill was imperfect, and I also recognize that I am no longer representing Oregon as a lawmaker."
Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., also queried Chavez-DeRemer about the PRO Act, questioning if she would change Alabama's Right-to-Work laws.
"My constituents at home want to know that. Are you going to try to change our status as Right-to-Work?" Tuberville asked during the hearing.
"I respect the fact that you are from a Right-to-Work state, and I respect the fact that you can continue to be a Right-to-Work state," Chavez-DeRemer said.
Chavez-DeRemer highlighted the distinction between representing Oregon as a congresswoman and representing Trump's agenda as Labor secretary.
"I signed on to the PRO Act because I was representing Oregon's 5th district, but I also signed on to the PRO Act because I wanted to be at that table and have those conversations. I fully, fairly support states who want to protect their Right-to-Work," Chavez-DeRemer said.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-V.T.) began the hearing by questioning if Chavez-DeRemer would stand by her pro-union values or bend the knee to Trump's "authoritarian" rule.
"You will have to make a choice. Will you be a rubber stamp for the anti-worker agenda of Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and other multi-billionaires who are blatantly anti-union?" Sanders asked.
"Or will you stand with working families all over the country? So that is really the main issue. It's not just your record. This is a very unusual administration. In my view, we are moving toward an authoritarian society where one person has enormous power," Sanders added.
Chavez-DeRemer was joined by her husband, Dr. Shawn DeRemer, father Richard Chavez, mother Patricia Chavez, daughter Annie DeRemer and other extended family members.
In her opening statement, Chavez-DeRemer thanked Trump and credited him with the "single greatest political achievement of our time" – a new coalition of working-class Americans.
"President Trump has united a new coalition of working-class Americans like never before. With 59.6% of Teamsters backing him, historic support from African American and Latino voters, and record-breaking turnout in once-solid blue cities and states—Americans are speaking loud and clear. They are calling for action, progress, and leadership that puts the American worker first," Chavez-DeRemer said.
Chavez-DeRemer advocated for trade school investments to expand "educational pathways beyond the traditional four-year degree" programs that will strengthen the American workforce. She committed to leveling the playing field for American businesses, workers and unions.
"My record of collaboration demonstrates a shared belief that, under President Trump's leadership, we can deliver real solutions. Putting American Workers First is not just a vision but a promise to fight for every working mom, single dad, small business owner, and every American striving for their fair shot at the American Dream," Chavez-DeRemer said.
Less than three weeks after he was elected president, Trump nominated Chavez-DeRemer for U.S. secretary of Labor.
"Lori has worked tirelessly with both Business and Labor to build America's workforce, and support the hardworking men and women of America," Trump said. "I look forward to working with her to create tremendous opportunity for American Workers, to expand training and apprenticeships, to grow wages and improve working conditions, to bring back our manufacturing jobs. Together, we will achieve historic cooperation between Business and Labor that will restore the American Dream for Working Families."Original article source: Trump's nominee for Labor secretary walks back support for PRO Act, embraces Republican Right-to-Work laws
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Newsweek
30 minutes ago
- Newsweek
2024 Election Results Under Scrutiny as Lawsuit Advances
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A legal case questioning the accuracy of the 2024 election is moving forward. The lawsuit, brought by SMART Legislation, the action arm of SMART Elections, a nonpartisan watchdog group, filed the lawsuit over voting discrepancies in Rockland County, New York. Judge Rachel Tanguay of the New York Supreme Court ruled in open court in May that the allegations were serious enough for discovery to proceed. Newsweek has contacted SMART Elections for comment via email. People cast their ballots on the last day of early voting for the general election in Michigan at the Livingston Educational Service Agency in Howell on November 3, 2024. People cast their ballots on the last day of early voting for the general election in Michigan at the Livingston Educational Service Agency in Howell on November 3, 2024. Jeff Kowalsky/AFP via Getty Images Why It Matters The lawsuit could renew debate about the 2024 election, though it won't change the outcome since Congress has certified the results declaring President Donald Trump the winner. It comes amid unconfirmed reports that voting machines were secretly altered before ballots were cast in November's election. The federally accredited testing lab, Pro V&V, that signed off on "significant" changes to ES&S voting machines—which are used in over 40 percent of U.S. counties—"vanished from public view" after the election, according to the Dissent in Bloom Substack. What To Know According to the complaint, more voters have sworn in legal affidavits that they voted for independent U.S. Senate candidate Diane Sare than the Rockland County Board of Elections counted and certified, contradicting those results. The complaint also cited numerous statistical anomalies in the presidential election results. They include multiple districts where hundreds of voters chose the Democratic candidate Kirsten Gillibrand for Senate, but none voted for former Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic candidate for president. Max Bonamente, a professor of physics and astronomy at the University of Alabama in Huntsville and the author of the Statistics and Analysis of Scientific Data, said in a paper that the 2024 presidential election results were statistically highly unlikely in four of the five towns in Rockland County when compared with 2020 results. What People Are Saying Lulu Friesdat, the founder and executive director of SMART Legislation, said in a statement: "There is clear evidence that the Senate results are incorrect, and there are statistical indications that the presidential results are highly unlikely. "If the results are incorrect, it is a violation of the constitutional rights of each person who voted in the 2024 Rockland County general election. The best way to determine if the results are correct is to examine the paper ballots in a full public, transparent hand recount of all presidential and Senate ballots in Rockland County. We believe it's vitally important, especially in the current environment, to be absolutely confident about the results of the election." Max Bonamente said in a paper on the voting data from Rockland County: "These data would require extreme sociological or political causes for their explanation, and would benefit from further assurances as to their fidelity." Costas Panagopoulos, a professor of political science at Northeastern University, told Newsweek: "Statistical irregularities in elections should always be investigated, but the sources of such inconsistencies, which can include error or miscalculation, are not always nefarious. Still, scrutinizing election results can strengthen confidence in elections. Mistakes can happen. "In this case, the drop-off inconsistencies could reflect the idiosyncratic nature of the 2024 presidential election cycle. Alone, statistical comparisons to previous cycles cannot provide definitive proof of wrongdoing. "In any case, it does not appear that any of these inconsistencies would be sufficient to change the outcomes of any of the elections in question in New York state. That does not mean they should not be scrutinized, and any errors, if verified, should be corrected for the historical record. But there is not necessarily any need to invalidate any of these elections in these jurisdictions." What's Next The lawsuit is seeking a full, hand recount of ballots cast in the presidential and U.S. Senate races in Rockland County. A hearing has been scheduled for September 22.

USA Today
34 minutes ago
- USA Today
Trump administration deploys Marines to Los Angeles
Trump administration deploys Marines to Los Angeles | The Excerpt On Tuesday's episode of The Excerpt podcast: 700 Marines have been deployed to Los Angeles. But California has sued the Trump administration to block deployment of the National Guard and the Marines. Plus, USA TODAY National Correspondent Trevor Hughes reports from on the ground in Southern California. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has fired all of a committee that advises the federal government on vaccine safety. USA TODAY White House Correspondent Joey Garrison discusses what's next for DOGE after the departure of Elon Musk and the recent collapse of the Trump-Musk alliance. Swedish activist Greta Thunberg has been deported from Israel after the Israeli navy prevented her and a group of fellow pro-Palestinian activists from sailing to Gaza. Funk pioneer Sly Stone has died at 82. Let us know what you think of this episode by sending an email to podcasts@ Hit play on the player below to hear the podcast and follow along with the transcript beneath it. This transcript was automatically generated, and then edited for clarity in its current form. There may be some differences between the audio and the text. Podcasts: True crime, in-depth interviews and more USA TODAY podcasts right here Taylor Wilson: Good morning. I'm Taylor Wilson, and today is Tuesday, June 10th, 2025. This is the Excerpt. Today, the latest from Los Angeles as Marines move in. Plus what's next for the Department of Government Efficiency. And we remember Sly Stone. ♦ The Trump administration yesterday ordered hundreds of US Marines into Los Angeles to assist the National Guard. A tense standoff between California and the federal government continues. California sued the Trump administration to block deployment of the National Guard and the Marines yesterday arguing that it violates federal law and state sovereignty. Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, said the Marines are being sent due to increased threats to federal law enforcement officers and federal buildings. President Trump yesterday said folks causing problems in Los Angeles should be jailed. President Trump: The people that are causing the problem are professional agitators. They're insurrectionists. They're bad people. They should be in jail. Taylor Wilson: Protesters have taken to the streets over ICE detentions and other immigration policies they oppose. Protests have resulted in a few dozen arrests and property damage. For more on what things are like this week in Los Angeles, I rang up USA TODAY, national correspondent, Trevor Hughes. Trevor, thanks as always for joining me. Trevor Hughes: Absolutely. Taylor Wilson: So you're there in Los Angeles. Just set the scene for us here. What has the mood been like around the city? Trevor Hughes: The President and the White House have really been making a big deal about the protests and the unrest. And I've seen it myself. There have been car fires and pepper spray and tear gas, but the reality is Los Angeles is a very large area and these protests have so far been limited to very, very small areas. So the reality is most people are going about their day. Taylor Wilson: As for who you've spoken with, let's start with some of the protesters. What do they say they have been functionally protesting and how has their experience been, Trevor, over the last few days? Trevor Hughes: There is this really deep frustration that people have here in California over the President's immigration agenda. California is a very liberal place compared to most of the rest of the country, and the President swept into office with promises of major deportation efforts. People here are very, very opposed to that. And so some of the riots that we've seen, some of the protests we've seen, have really been sparked by community members trying to stop ICE agents from detaining people or taking them away into these detention centers. Taylor Wilson: Have you had chats with ICE agents or anyone on that side of the coin? Trevor Hughes: No. The federal agents on the ground here have not been talking to reporters. We've heard from the leadership about their goals and we've heard a lot from the President about his concerns. The President has really characterized what's been going on here as very violent, as very dangerous, out of control, and he's promising to bring order back. I will tell you that having been through many, many protests and riots over the years, I would say local police officers clearly have this in hand when they choose to. Taylor Wilson: We know President Trump and California Governor, Gavin Newsom have been exchanging jabs over this, to say the least. That's maybe an understatement. What's the latest amid their tensions, including this lawsuit out of California? Trevor Hughes: Oh goodness. I mean, you have to bear in mind that this enmity between the two of them goes back a very long time. The two of them are very much opposite sides of the same coin in some ways. And this lawsuit where the governor has sued the President over the deployment of the National Guard over his objections is just ratcheting up the tension. And then of course, the President has said that he would consider arresting the governor. Taylor Wilson: Based on what you're hearing there on the ground, what's the expectation? What might we expect the rest of this week and beyond? Trevor Hughes: The President has said that the National Guard will be deployed here for 60 days. Frankly, we have not really seen them in the streets much. So far, it has really been the local law enforcement that has been deployed to the streets. But I will say talking to folks, a lot of young people are very frustrated, are very angry, and just want to show that in a powerful, strong way. I was talking to one guy earlier, he was like, "We don't have guns. We have prayers and feathers. We're not the side with guns and pepper balls and tear gas." "But," he said, "there are young people who want to fight with the police." And he said he can understand why they would feel that way. Taylor Wilson: Trevor Hughes is a national correspondent with USA TODAY joining us from Los Angeles. Thanks, Trevor. Trevor Hughes: Absolutely. ♦ Taylor Wilson: That last person Trevor mentioned was Jose Bear Gallegos, a retired teacher. He said authorities were looking for a reaction from protesters in recent days. Jose Bear Gallegos: They got a little crazy on Saturday, but not on our part. Every time we got a little close, they sprayed us. Taylor Wilson: While cars have been set on fire this week, tear gas has been released and the National Guard and Marines have now been deployed. Some local Angelenos told Trevor that things have not been necessarily out of control. Folks like Los Angeles pastor and retired teacher, Ira Long. Ira Long: It's never been totally out of control. It has its challenges, its issues. As a teacher for LA Unified for 37 years, I know that there's challenges in our community, but I also know that they're amazing and fantastic families who come here and make the city a great place to live. Taylor Wilson: Protests were seen in at least nine other US cities yesterday, according to local news outlets. You can stay with the latest on ♦ Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has fired all 17 members of a committee that advises the federal government on vaccine safety, and will replace them with new members. At issue is the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices, which makes recommendations on the safety, efficacy, and clinical need of vaccines to the CDC. It comprises medical and public health experts who develop recommendations on the use of vaccines in the civilian population of the country. And announcing the move, Kennedy said it was about prioritizing the restoration of public trust above any specific pro or anti-vaccine agenda. Kennedy himself has a history of controversial vaccine stances. Earlier this year, Republican Senator Bill Cassidy, the chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, said Kennedy had promised to maintain the advisory committee's current composition. The Biden administration appointed all 17 sitting committee members, with 13 of them taking their seats last year. ♦ What's next for the Department of Government Efficiency after the collapse of the Trump-Musk alliance? I spoke with USA TODAY, White House correspondent, Joey Garrison, for more. Hey there, Joey. Joey Garrison: Hey, Taylor. Thanks for having me on. Taylor Wilson: Thanks for hopping on, Joey. So President Trump says Doge will keep going without Elon Musk. What have we heard from Trump on this point in recent days? Joey Garrison: Since the big blow up with Elon Musk, President Trump has made clear that he intends for Doge to continue its cost-cutting, government-cutting work even without Musk there. Of course, Musk had actually already left the week before. The White House had made clear that it's going to continue to have Doge staff members on board to try to carry out its mission of reducing so-called waste, fraud, and abuse from the government. However, it's hard to say whether it's going to be able to pack the same punch and really aggressively cut the government wholesale like it's been doing for four months without Musk. In addition to Musk leaving, there was various other top Doge officials who signed off. And so there's really a leadership vacuum right now. If you think about all the efforts, particularly in terms of cutting the workforce of the federal government, how much of that was driven publicly by Musk, both with his social media attention that he gave the Doge work as well as the spotlight he took at the White House standing aside Donald Trump during events. That part is going to be missing, and I think a lot of folks have questions whether this is going to quietly go away now the Musk is out of the picture. Taylor Wilson: Well, Joey, considering this potential leadership vacuum, how does Russell Vought enter the picture? Joey Garrison: Yeah, so Russ Vought, who was the OMB director, that stands for Office of Budget and Management, he had that same position in the first Trump term. He's taken the spotlight more as the person who was talking about the swift cuts that Musk was embracing. We see this right now with the rescissions bill that he's trying to get passed through Congress that would codify some of the Doge cuts, particularly when it comes to eliminating government spending on NPR and PBS. So Vought is taking the stance that, hey, we're trying to implement some of these cuts that Elon Musk talked about. And so he's really and center right now. And what you got to remember about Vought is he doesn't sound too much different than Musk. I mean, when you see what he wrote with Project 2025, he talks about breaking the federal bureaucracy so that the Executive Branch, the President, has the full power across the federal government and not these independent agencies. Of course, where Musk though really embraced this very public role, Vought works more behind the scenes, somebody who has a lot more relationships with Congress than Elon Musk. So there's a lot of differences there. I will say that when you ask the White House, "Hey, who's replacing Elon Musk?" They don't point to anyone in particular. They say it's the cabinet secretaries themselves, the leaders of these departments of agencies that are taking on that Doge role. Taylor Wilson: Well, you mentioned Congress a moment ago. Some Republican lawmakers have said they want to codify Doge cuts. What's the latest here? What can you tell us? Joey Garrison: Well, there should be a vote we're expecting on Thursday in regards to that rescissions bill that I mentioned earlier, where they will look to codify that. And Russ Vought has also said, "Look, let's get this one passed with these initial cuts, and then we'll try to get some of these moving forward." But it remains to be seen how many of those cuts are actually enacted eventually. Taylor Wilson: And Joey, we should say, some agencies have been working to even bring back fired workers after this massive slashing that we saw under Musk. Is that still the case? What's happening there? Joey Garrison: That's been a trend that we saw right at the get-go when the haphazardly really issued blanket resignations to all sorts of probationary workers who had been working in less than a year or two within these agencies. After doing so, they either A, found out that they had done too many in certain places or didn't realize some of the folks they were firing, and that continues to be something that we're seeing now. And I think without Musk's presence, top Doge, you're going to see, I think a lot more of these cabinet secretaries feel like they're maybe more empowered to staff the departments to the degree they want to. Yes, Doge is still around, but I think you have a lot less of that pressure, so it'll be curious to see whether the federal government ends up getting a little bit. Taylor Wilson: All right, Joey Garrison is a White House correspondent with USA TODAY. Thanks as always, Joey. Joey Garrison: Yeah, thanks, Taylor. ♦ Taylor Wilson: Greta Thunberg was deported from Israel earlier today, a day after the Israeli Navy prevented her and a group of fellow pro Palestinian activists from sailing to Gaza. Israeli forces boarded the charity vessel as it neared Gaza early yesterday, trying to break through Israel's longstanding naval blockade. The activists have been carrying a small cargo of humanitarian aid, including rice and baby formula, and said they wanted to raise international awareness about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Israel's foreign ministry said that the tiny amount of aid on the boat that was, as they put it, "not consumed by the celebrities," will be transferred to Gaza through, quote, "real humanitarian channels." Israel has imposed a naval blockade on Gaza since Hamas took control of the enclave in 2007. Israel says it aims to stop weapons from reaching Hamas. In March, Israel imposed a total blockade of all supplies reaching Gaza, which the UN says has pushed the population to the brink of famine. In recent weeks, Israel has allowed limited food supplies to be distributed by a new Israeli-backed group. ♦ Sly Stone, a one-time San Francisco DJ turned pop and funk music innovator, has died. Stone went on to see chart-topping success in the '60s and '70s, though he was later plagued by homelessness and health issues. He also went through financial problems amid management disputes, at one point, winning a five-million-dollar judgment for unpaid royalties that was later overturned. Reports at one stage of his life indicated he was living in a van in Los Angeles. And yet, he and his trendsetting, multiracial, multi-gendered Bay Area band, the Family Stone never stopped being a touchstone for generations of musicians. You can read more about Sly's life and legacy with a link in today's show notes. Sly Stone was 82. ♦ Thanks for listening to The Excerpt. You can get the podcast wherever you get your audio. And as always, you can find us at podcasts@ if you want to shoot us an email, I'm Taylor Wilson, I'll be back tomorrow with more of The Excerpt from USA TODAY.


CNBC
35 minutes ago
- CNBC
Trump's 'big beautiful' spending bill could make it harder to claim this low-income tax credit
As Senate Republicans debate President Donald Trump's "big beautiful bill", a lesser-known provision from the House-approved package could make it harder to claim a low-income tax credit. If enacted as written, the House measure in the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" would require precertification of each qualifying child for filers claiming the so-called earned income tax credit, or EITC, starting in 2028. Under current law, taxpayers claim the EITC on their tax return — including Schedule EIC for qualifying children. The provision aims to "avoid duplicative and other erroneous claims," according to the bill's text. But policy experts say the new rules would burden eligible filers, who may forgo the EITC as a result. The measure could also delay tax refunds for those filers, particularly amid IRS cutbacks, experts say. More from Personal Finance:Job market is 'trash' right now, career coach says — here's whyWhat a 'revenge tax' in Trump's spending bill could mean for investorsWhat Trump's plan to slash Pell Grant to lowest level in a decade means for you "You're going to flood the IRS with all these [EITC] documents," said Janet Holtzblatt, a senior fellow at the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center. "It's just not clear how they're going to process all this information." Holtzblatt, who has pushed to simplify the EITC for decades, wrote a critique of the proposed precertification last week. "This is not a new idea, but was previously considered, studied and rejected for very good reasons," Greg Leiserson, a senior fellow at the Tax Law Center at New York University Law, wrote about the proposal in late May. Studies during the George W. Bush administration found an EITC precertification process reduced EITC claims for eligible filers, Leiserson wrote. During the study, precertification also yielded a lower return on investment compared to existing EITC enforcement, such as audits, he wrote. One of the key benefits of the EITC is the tax break is "refundable," meaning you can still claim the credit and get a refund with zero taxes owed. That's valuable for lower earners who don't have a tax bill, experts say. To qualify, you need "earned income," or wages from work. The income phase-outs depend on your "qualifying children," based on four IRS tests. "Eligibility is complicated," and residency requirements for qualifying children often cause errors, said Holtzblatt with the Tax Policy Center. For 2025, the tax break is worth up to $8,046 for eligible families. You can claim the maximum EITC with adjusted gross income up to $61,555 for single filers and $68,675 for married couples filing jointly. These phase-outs apply to families with three or more children. As of December 2024, about 23 million workers received the EITC for tax year 2022, according to the IRS. But 1 in 5 eligible taxpayers don't claim the tax break, the agency estimates. Nine Democratic Senators last week voiced concerns about the House-approved EITC changes in a letter to Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., and House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La. If enacted, the updates would "further complicate the EITC's existing challenges and make it more difficult to claim," the lawmakers wrote. Higher earners are more likely to face an audit, but EITC claimants have a 5.5 times higher audit rate than the rest of U.S. filers, partly due to improper payments, according to the Bipartisan Policy Center. The proposed EITC change, among other House provisions, still need Senate approval, and it's unclear how the measure could change. However, under the reconciliation process, Senate Republicans only need a simple majority to advance the bill.