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Hearing Recap: "Examining the Policies and Priorities of the Department of Labor"

WASHINGTON, D.C., June 5, 2025
Employer-sponsored health care, apprenticeship programs, and artificial intelligence (AI) were just a few of the topics at the forefront of the Education and Workforce Committee’s hearing today with Department of Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer. 


In his opening statement, Chairman Tim Walberg (R-MI) highlighted how Committee Republicans are already working with President Trump to address the skills gap. 

“With more than 7 million unfilled jobs in the U.S. and over 7 million unemployed individuals, it’s obvious that we should be doing more to support those looking to gain new skills. Therefore, the Committee has advanced bipartisan reforms to allow Pell Grants to support students in high-quality, short-term workforce education programs,” he said.
 

Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) asked the secretary about how to protect farmers who depend on visas for harvest season. “[The current system] is unsustainable and we have to make sure we are protecting those farmers and ranchers, and I commit to you that I will work with your office and many others as we address this—along with [Agriculture] Secretary Brooke Rollins,” said Secretary Chavez-DeRemer.
 

Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC) requested an update on recovering the over $127 million taxpayer dollars used to fund pensions for dead people. “Under the Biden administration, the Pension Benefits Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) failed to implement those necessary safeguards to ensure that the multiemployer pension plans were safeguarded," explained Secretary Chavez-DeRemer. “It is imperative that the PBGC continue to ensure that integrity for those Special Financial Assistance programs and to benefit the American worker first.”


 
Rep. James Moylan (R-GU) highlighted the unique needs of his constituency in Guam and their workforce. “What strategies does the Department of Labor (DOL) plan to pursue to ensure the remote and underserved communities like Guam are equipped with the skills necessary to participate in America’s growing tech economy?” he asked. In her response, Secretary Chavez-DeRemer highlighted the administration’s strong support for expanding apprenticeship programs. “We’ve added about 83,000 [apprenticeships] since January 20… It is my goal to be focused on respective states in order to enhance their apprenticeship program especially in the tech sector… High-paid, skilled, trade jobs—that is going to be key for Guam and many other states,” she said.

In an exchange with Rep. Burgess Owens (R-UT), the secretary highlighted her goal to empower our nation’s workforce. “It’s an honor to serve at the pleasure of the President but it’s really an honor to serve the American people and change the way we have done business. For far too long, government has been an adversary as opposed to an ally. I want to be an ally for the American worker and the American business,” she said.
 

Rep. Bob Onder (R-MO) focused on protecting employer-sponsored health care plans. “It seems that there are some who believe that all health insurance should be government health insurance, but I think many of us in this room today have for most of our lives been covered by employer-provided and self-insured plans. So, I think that’s an important part of our health care system that we need to protect,” he explained. 

When Rep. Ryan Mackenzie (R-PA) asked about the increase of AI in the workforce, Secretary Chavez-DeRemer explained how DOL is protecting jobs. “AI is not going away… One of the fears often that I hear is, ‘Will AI replace my job?’ One of the things we never want to do at the Department of Labor is displace the American worker, we want to assist the American worker. I will be working with Congress and looking to them as they develop their policies to protect the American worker,” she said.
 

Bottom line: A strong economy starts with an empowered workforce. Republicans are committed to putting the American worker first.
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