In a bipartisan vote of 67 to 32, the U.S. Senate confirmed former Congresswoman Lori Chavez-DeRemer as the next U.S. Secretary of Labor.
The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) joined other major unions, including the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, North America’s Building Trades Unions, the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America and others in supporting Lori Chavez-DeRemer’s nomination.
IAFF General President Edward A. Kelly shared: “Lori has been a friend to firefighters throughout her entire career.
“Now as Secretary of Labor, she’ll play a key role in advancing safety standards that help to keep firefighters and the communities we serve, safe.
“The IAFF was proud to join with so many leaders in the labor movement to support her nomination, and we look forward to working with her to advance the health and well-being of all U.S. fire fighters over the next four years.”
Before her nomination to lead the Department of Labor, Chavez-DeRemer represented Oregon’s 5th Congressional District.
During her time in Congress, she voted for key IAFF priorities, including the Fire Grants and Safety Act and the Social Security Fairness Act, which repealed the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) penalties on retirees.
Chavez-DeRemer also cosponsored legislation to address rising cancer rates among fire fighters, eliminate PFAS in fire fighter protective gear, and ensure that fire fighters who die from occupational cancer are recognized as line-of-duty deaths under the Public Safety Officer Benefit (PSOB) program.
Prior to her time in Congress, she served as a city council member and Mayor of Happy Valley, Oregon.
As Secretary of Labor, Chavez-DeRemer will oversee crucial policy decisions affecting firefighters and emergency medical workers, such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) proposed Emergency Response Standard (ERS) — the first major update to firefighter safety standards in decades.
The ERS would replace the current “Fire Brigades Standard” and modernize the fire service for the 21st century.
The IAFF has announced that Lori Chavez-DeRemer will be the next Labor Secretary, a decision they are celebrating as the IAFF had supported her original nomination.
IAFF General President Edward A. Kelly said as Secretary of Labor, Lori will play a key role in advancing safety standards that help to keep firefighters and the communities we serve, safe.
