WASHINGTON – Today, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee voted to favorably report the nomination of Keith Sonderling to be Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor by a vote of 12 to 11. Her nomination will now move to the Senate floor for a final vote at a later date.
Click here to watch the full executive session.
Before the vote, U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), chair of the HELP Committee, delivered remarks on Sonderling’s nomination. Cassidy’s speech as prepared for delivery can be found below:
The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions will please come to order.
I appreciated Mr. Sonderling appearing before the Committee last week.
If confirmed as Deputy Secretary of Labor, Mr. Sonderling will play a crucial role in enacting President Trump’s pro-worker agenda; empowering workers and creating economic growth nationwide. His expertise and experience implementing labor policy makes him more than qualified.
Mr. Sonderling committed to support independent workers, allowing them to earn a living and provide for their families in the manner they choose. He was instrumental in creating the independent contractor standard in first Trump administration. I hope the Department of Labor (DOL) will return to this pro-worker policy.
He also committed to clarify DOL regulations so workers are protected and employers have legal clarity on what does and does not violate federal labor law.
Alongside Secretary-designate Chavez-DeRemer, Mr. Sonderling is ready to work with this Committee to implement a pro-America agenda that secures a better future for all workers. I proudly support his nomination and urge my colleagues to do the same.
With that, I recognize Senator Sanders for his opening statement.
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