Lori Chavez-DeRemer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lori Chavez-DeRemer
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Official portrait, 2025
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| 30th United States Secretary of Labor | |
| Assumed office March 11, 2025 |
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| President | Donald Trump |
| Deputy | Keith Sonderling |
| Preceded by | Marty Walsh Julie Su (acting) |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Oregon's 5th district |
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| In office January 3, 2023 – January 3, 2025 |
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| Preceded by | Kurt Schrader |
| Succeeded by | Janelle Bynum |
| Mayor of Happy Valley | |
| In office January 18, 2011 – January 15, 2019 |
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| Preceded by | Rob Wheeler |
| Succeeded by | Tom Ellis |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Lori Michelle Chávez
April 7, 1968 Santa Clara, California, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse |
Shawn DeRemer
(m. 1991) |
| Children | 2 |
| Relatives | Stuart Erwin (great-granduncle) |
| Education | California State University, Fresno (BBA) |
Lori Chavez-DeRemer (born April 7, 1968) is an American politician. She is currently the 30th United States Secretary of Labor. She started this job in 2025.
Before this, she was a U.S. Representative for Oregon from 2023 to 2025. She also served as the mayor of Happy Valley, Oregon, from 2011 to 2019.
Lori Chavez-DeRemer is a member of the Republican Party. She was the first Republican woman to represent Oregon in the U.S. House. She is also one of the first two Hispanic women elected to the United States Congress from Oregon.
In November 2024, President-elect Donald Trump chose her to be the U.S. Secretary of Labor. The U.S. Senate approved her for this role in March 2025.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Lori Chavez-DeRemer was born on April 7, 1968, in Santa Clara, California. She grew up in Hanford, California. Her father, Richard Chavez, was a Mexican American Teamster.
She finished high school at Hanford High School in 1986. Later, she earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from California State University, Fresno.
Early Political Career
Chavez-DeRemer began her political career in Happy Valley, Oregon. She was elected to the city council in 2004.
In 2010, she was elected mayor of Happy Valley. She was reelected in 2014 and served as mayor until 2018.
In 2016, she ran for a seat in the Oregon House of Representatives. She lost that election by a small number of votes. She ran again for the same seat in 2018 but lost again to Janelle Bynum.
Serving in the U.S. House of Representatives
Elections for Congress
2022 Election
In 2022, Chavez-DeRemer won the Republican primary election for Oregon's 5th congressional district. This district had changed a lot because of new boundaries.
She then won the main election in November 2022. She defeated Jamie McLeod-Skinner, who was the Democratic candidate.
2024 Election
Chavez-DeRemer ran for reelection in 2024. She faced Janelle Bynum again, who was the Democratic candidate. This election was very close and important.
Janelle Bynum won the election in November 2024. This meant Chavez-DeRemer served one term in the U.S. House.
Committee Work
While in the U.S. House, Chavez-DeRemer worked on several important committees. These committees help create laws and oversee government actions.
- Committee on Agriculture: This committee deals with farming and food issues.
- Committee on Education and the Workforce: This committee focuses on schools, jobs, and worker rights.
- Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: This committee works on roads, bridges, airports, and other public structures.
Groups She Joined
Chavez-DeRemer was also part of different groups in Congress. These groups, called caucuses, bring together members who share similar interests or goals.
- Climate Solutions Caucus: Members work on solutions for climate change.
- Congressional Hispanic Conference: This group supports Hispanic members of Congress.
- Congressional Western Caucus: Focuses on issues important to Western states.
- Problem Solvers Caucus: A group of Republicans and Democrats who try to find common ground.
Secretary of Labor (2025–Present)
Becoming Secretary
On November 22, 2024, President-elect Donald Trump announced he wanted Lori Chavez-DeRemer to be the next United States Secretary of Labor. This job involves overseeing laws about workers and jobs in the U.S.
The Teamsters Union, a large labor union, supported her nomination. Their president, Sean O’Brien, said she understood the importance of unions because her father was a Teamster.
She had a hearing with the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions in February 2025. The Senate approved her nomination on March 10, 2025, with a strong vote.
Her Time as Secretary
Lori Chavez-DeRemer officially became the 30th United States Secretary of Labor on March 11, 2025.
Political Views
The New York Times has described Chavez-DeRemer as a "mainstream Republican." She sees herself as an independent thinker.
In September 2024, she was one of six Republicans who signed a letter. This letter promised to respect the results of the 2024 presidential election.
Views on Agriculture
As a member of the House Agriculture Committee, Chavez-DeRemer has been involved in farming issues.
In 2023, she opposed a part of a farming bill that would have changed state laws about how farm animals are raised. She believed it would hurt farmers who followed state rules.
In 2024, she signed a letter asking for ways the U.S. could lead in new biotechnologies, like cultivated meat. She believes this is important for national security.
Views on Labor
Chavez-DeRemer has shown support for workers' rights. She was the only Republican to help sponsor the Protecting the Right to Organize Act (PRO Act). This act would give workers more power to form unions and bargain with employers.
She also supported a law that would expand the power of public sector unions. Her support for these laws was a reason why the Teamsters Union supported her for Secretary of Labor.
Personal Life
Lori Chavez-DeRemer is married to Shawn DeRemer, who is an anesthesiologist. They have two children. The family lives in Happy Valley, Oregon. Chavez-DeRemer is a Roman Catholic.
Images for kids
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Official portrait, 2025
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Lori Chavez-DeRemer during her time in Congress.
See also
In Spanish: Lori Chavez-DeRemer para niños
