Senator Marshall Questions Labor Secretary Nominee Lori Chavez-DeRemer During Confirmation Hearing

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas) participated in the confirmation hearing today for President Donald Trump’s Department of Labor (DOL) Secretary nominee, Lori Chavez-DeRemer, in the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP). 

Lori Chavez-DeRemer served as a congresswoman in the U.S. House of Representatives for Oregon’s 5th district from 2023 to 2025. Senator Marshall met with Mrs. Chavez-DeRemer ahead of her confirmation hearing and believes she will be an excellent champion for the American worker.

Senator Marshall questioned former Congresswoman Chavez-DeRemer on expanding workforce development opportunities and how she will address the needs of both union and nonunion laborers and employers alike. 

You may click HERE or on the image above to watch Senator Marshall’s full remarks. 

Highlights from Mrs. Chavez-DeRemer’s confirmation hearing include: 

On supporting workforce development: 

Senator Marshall: “Welcome, Congresswoman. Thank you for being here today. I’m so grateful for President Trump nominating you. I think when he did this, it was certainly a shout-out to the hard-working men and women across this country.”

“I want to talk about workplace development for a second. Though unemployment is relatively low, supposedly, our participation rate isn’t as good. And I think there’s an opportunity there to get people back in the workforce, and if they don’t have the skills, the education to do that, then let’s help them out. I see there are so many great opportunities – our community colleges, our technical colleges, the unions, apprenticeships, all those pieces are out there. What can we do? What can you do to help support them and help them be successful?”

Mrs. Chavez-DeRemer: “Thank you, Senator Marshall…it was great meeting with you because we had that conversation about workforce development and workforce investment in our communities, and how it can differ oftentimes, in, you know, a metro area versus a rural area and all of the above.”

“I commit to you that I will work hard for the Department of Labor and the agencies within the Department of Labor to make sure that our young people are ready to go into the workforce. I also know we talked about the average age of a community college entrance is 27 years old. Sometimes people are looking to upskill or get another certificate so they can stay in their communities where they’re raising their families, and that’s their investment. So I look forward to making this wholeheartedly a pillar of the Department of Labor, is workforce investment and development.”

On supporting both union and nonunion workers and employers alike:

Senator Marshall: “I want to take a moment and talk about the franchise model again… In my mind, what the franchise model has done has helped many people achieve their American dream of owning their own business – and being successful too. And I think it’s been a great opportunity, especially for women, for minorities, and for veterans as well. And we have to work on this balance. I want the unions to be successful. I want the franchises to be successful as well. How do we achieve that balance? Any thoughts on where’s the win/win opportunity when it comes to that issue?”

Mrs. Chavez-DeRemer: “Well, a lot of times the references to the gig economy, and I understand the franchise model as well. And I support the efforts of, you know, the franchise model, as it does allow the flexibility for business owners to determine, do they want to be in business for themselves? Do they want to work for somebody else?”

“But I think the only change that can be talked about today that will work in all of these is everybody has to have that voice and understanding at the table… I want everybody at that table to have that voice and what is valuable to them and their membership, or them and their employees, or a business owner when they’re struggling.”

“We can protect all American workers. There’s a continuum from the first day that we have our first job all the way through retirement – wherever a worker is, or a retiree is on that continuum, they should be respected for the hard work that they’ve put in. I can tell you, bringing everybody to the table is going to do just that, and reinforce the things that we care about.”