Mobile Courant

U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville engaged in a dialogue with Lori Chavez-DeRemer, nominated by President Trump to lead the Department of Labor, during her confirmation hearing before the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee. The discussion covered several key topics relevant to labor policies and workforce development.

Senator Tuberville highlighted Alabama's status as a Right-to-Work state. He asked Chavez-DeRemer about her stance on potential changes to this status and on union dues being used for political contributions without employee consent. Chavez-DeRemer assured that she respects Alabama's position as a Right-to-Work state and emphasized the importance of transparency regarding union dues: “I think they should be aware of where their dues are going.”

The conversation also touched upon Chavez-DeRemer's voting record related to the PRO Act. She clarified her position: “Senator, if I could correct the record, I did not vote for the PRO Act.”

Tuberville raised questions about Chavez-DeRemer's past association with Planned Parenthood and her stance on pro-life issues. She stated, “I have a 100% pro-life voting record in Congress.”

On immigration policy, Tuberville discussed Alabama's need for engineers due to NASA and defense contractors' presence. He expressed concerns over shortages in high-tech skills and asked for Chavez-DeRemer's views on legal immigration. She replied: “I’m supportive of legal immigration only,” adding that testing market needs is crucial before expanding guest worker programs.

The topic of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) agreements was also brought up by Tuberville. He described NIL as a "disaster" needing regulation to ensure fair opportunities for young athletes: “It needs to be regulated to a point where...young men and women can have a chance to make money.”

Senator Tuberville serves Alabama in the U.S. Senate and participates in various committees including Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP, and Aging.