Confirmation Hearing for Secretary of Labor Nominee to be Held on February 19

February 18, 2025

The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions will hold a confirmation hearing for Secretary of Labor nominee Lori Chavez-DeRemer on February 19 starting at 10am ET. If confirmed by the Senate, Chavez-DeRemer would oversee the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the ongoing development of their proposed Emergency Response Standard.

The proposed standard, as written, would be devastating for small volunteer fire departments because of its infeasible economic and administrative burdens. The most recent comment period on the proposed standard concluded on January 17, and OSHA will be reviewing the comments it has received on the proposed standard until further notice.

The National Volunteer Fire Council issued the following statement in advance of Chavez-DeRemer’s confirmation hearing:

“As the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions committee prepares for the confirmation hearing of Secretary of Labor nominee Lori Chavez-DeRemer, the National Volunteer Fire Council would like to re-affirm our strong concerns about the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s proposed Emergency Response Standard. While we agree with the need for additional firefighter safety, the proposed OSHA standard as written would cripple emergency response in rural America due to its economically infeasibility and arbitrary administrative burdens. A safety standard that’s impossible to implement would not support firefighter safety. Additionally, much of the proposed standard goes beyond addressing a significant risk that can be quantified by data. If confirmed, we urge Fmr. Rep. Chavez-DeRemer to work with volunteer firefighters on formulating an approach within OSHA’s jurisdiction that would improve firefighter safety without compromising emergency response capabilities.”

You may view Chavez-DeRemer’s confirmation hearing here. Learn more about OSHA’s proposed Emergency Response Standard and the impact it would have on the volunteer fire service here.