On July 16, Keith Sonderling testified in a confirmation hearing before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. President Trump recently nominated Sonderling to become the next Secretary of Labor to replace former Secretary Lori Chavez DeRemer.
The hearing covered a wide range of topics including apprenticeships, AI’s impact on jobs and the inter-agency agreements (IAAs) between the Department of Labor (DOL) and the Department of Education (ED).
Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle focused their questions on apprenticeships. Chair Bill Cassidy (R-LA) advocated for simplifying the registration process for employers because the current system is too burdensome and noted that inconsistent state laws often confuse workers and businesses.
Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) asked if there were plans to revisit the Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship Program, a program from the first Trump Administration. Sonderling responded that the Administration’s focus is on promoting registered apprenticeships.
Democrats on the committee were largely critical of the IAAs, stating that DOL does not have the experience to handle the new education programs in its portfolio. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) said, “There’s a right way to do reform.” He went on to say that it requires the Administration approaching lawmakers with ideas for improvement.
A recording of the hearing can be found here.
