Alexander: Committee Approves Labor Board Nominees Who Can “Help Return NLRB to Neutral Umpire it Ought to Be”

WASHINGTON, D.C., July 19, 2017 — After the Senate labor committee approved the nominations of Marvin Kaplan and William Emanuel to serve on the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB),  Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) called on his colleagues in the full Senate to support the nominees and “restore the stability that American workers deserve.”

“My hope is that filling the two open seats on the National Labor Relations Board will restore the board to its intended purpose of acting as a neutral umpire after years of playing the role of advocate,” said Alexander. “It is important to American employees and employers alike that the Senate quickly confirm Mr. Kaplan and Mr. Emanuel to bring balance to the board and stability to our nation’s workplaces.”

Mr. Kaplan and Mr. Emanuel are nominated for positions that have been vacant – one for 23 months since President Obama declined to nominate a Republican for the then-minority seat, and the other for 11 months.   

Mr. Kaplan is currently Chief Counsel for the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission, where he has served since August 2015. Mr. Emanuel is currently an attorney working on labor and employment matters and has previously represented clients before the NLRB.

The Senate labor committee held a confirmation hearing on both nominees last Thursday. 

Alexander’s full prepared remarks are available here.

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