President-Elect Trump has nominated Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-OR-5) as Secretary of Labor. Congresswoman Chavez-DeRemer was elected to Congress in 2022, representing Oregon’s Fifth District. Before serving in Congress, Lori started her public service career in 2002 on the city’s Parks Committee, then was elected to the City Council and soon after Happy Valley’s Mayor. As the creative and energetic Mayor, she helped build the Portland suburban Happy Valley community into the attractive residential town it is today. After Lori was elected Mayor in 2010, she became Happy Valley’s first female and Latina-elected Mayor. She was re-elected in 2014 and served until 2019. When elected as a US Representative, De-Remer was the first Republican woman to represent OR in Congress.
During her years in Congress, Chavez-DeRemer has been an outspoken advocate for the bipartisan Infrastructure Act and the Department of Labor’s registered apprenticeship program (RAPs), frequently calling it the “Gold Standard” in Congressional workforce development oversight hearings. She has also strongly supported SMACNA and our efforts to invest in and grow the skilled workforce of the high-road construction industry. SMACNA has strongly endorsed and supported Rep. Chavez-DeRemer’s efforts in Congress and has worked with her on many legislative priorities. Further, she has built a strong relationship with several SMACNA members and our Capitol Hill Office, including Immediate Past President Carol Duncan, a highly accomplished industry leader and a well-known former Happy Valley, OR resident.
