Building Trades and Workforce Innovation with Oregon's Labor Leader

**Podcast Episode Description: Exploring Lori Chavez-DeRemer's Impact as U.S. Secretary of Labor** In this episode of the Secretary of Labor podcast, host Mortimer delves into the dynamic tenure of Lori Chavez-DeRemer, the 30th United States Secretary of Labor. Since her confirmation by a 67-32 Senate vote in March 2025, Chavez-DeRemer has been reshaping labor policy with her bold and innovative approach. As a Republican from Oregon and a former congresswoman, Chavez-DeRemer has a rich background that includes serving as mayor of Happy Valley. She champions worker rights, praised by Teamsters President Sean O’Brien for her advocacy, including co-sponsoring the PRO Act to enhance worker organizing efforts. Join us as we fast forward to 2026, where Chavez-DeRemer is fervently conducting her high-energy "America at Work" 50-state listening tour. Recently, she stopped in Omaha, Nebraska, engaging with Union Pacific Railroad to discuss their skilled labor investments, tied to their expansion plans that promise to create 900 new union jobs. Discover insights from her four-state swing through North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, and Nebraska, focused on workforce development and job creation, as confirmed by the U.S. Department of Labor newsroom. Social media is abuzz with her initiatives, such as reinstating women's apprenticeship grants, illustrating her commitment to expanding opportunities. The episode also highlights her controversial deregulatory strategies, which strive to balance worker protections with industry flexibility, sparking discussion across social platforms and media outlets. Despite initial opposition to her nomination, Chavez-DeRemer gains mainstream appeal for her cross-partisan efforts to bolster middle-class employment amid economic challenges. Tune in to explore how Secretary Chavez-DeRemer's tour is actively shaping the future of labor policy. Don't miss this insightful episode of the Secretary of Labor podcast. Subscribe now for more riveting episodes! This has been a Quiet Please production. For more information, visit [quietplease.ai](http://quietplease.ai).