During a House Appropriations Committee hearing on Thursday, Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) questioned Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer about the termination of grant programs from the International Labor Affairs Bureau.
00:00Thank you. Thank you. Mr. Laurel. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I was delighted, Madam Secretary, to hear you talk about a worker-centered department, as it should be, and that's also true of our trade agreements, need to be worker-centered as well.
00:18You promised, and I quote, to bring back jobs to the United States, but one of your first acts as secretary was canceling all projects funded by the Bureau of International Labor Affairs, ILAP, including the countless projects to make sure Mexico fulfills its labor commitments under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement, which was done with President Trump, helped deal with negotiations with several others, but that was passed into law by the president,
00:47Cutting these grants amounts to waving a white flag to countries that will steal American manufacturing jobs from us because it allows foreign companies to cheat, to undercut American jobs. They have lower wages, no labor standards, etc. You get it. You understand that.
01:03American workers are counting on you to monitor and enforce USMCA labor commitments so that they do not lose to places with weaker labor standards and institutions. But you and Elon Musk's Doge account characterized these grants as, quote, America last, end quote.
01:21My question is, I'm going to read some of the USMCA projects you cancel. Tell me how they are America last from your perspective. Strengthening government labor law enforcement in Mexico.
01:30You want me to answer individually as you go? Well, thank you again. And I know and I appreciate the passion that you have for 30 years that you're serving. I have the exact same passion in just the short amount of time because of my years of experience. So I look forward to working on all these issues. Our goal is to restore accountability and through ILAP and focus the taxpayer dollars for the American worker and business. And that has been my focus from the beginning.
01:53For one of their instance, working with USTR, Jameson Greer, in order to address the issues in Mexico, we will be working this out together because we're on the same subcommittee together, ranking member, and we will be focused on that.
02:05Let me just, I don't mean to interrupt you. I'm just saying.
02:07No, no problem.
02:08These projects have been canceled. Strengthening government labor law in Mexico. A government of Mexico approach to combating child labor. Engaging Mexico's auto sector employers in labor law reform implementation. These projects have been canceled.
02:28So what is, how do we then deal with maintaining what ILAP does or did is the making sure that American workers are not left behind, which is, looks to me like that's where you are going with this.
02:50And I will ask you about Ambassador Greer. Did that, did he or anyone else dealing with trade? Was he consulted? Was he involved in the discussions before these programs were canceled?
03:02Well, a couple of things, one that I want to comment on. You couldn't be more incorrect in saying that I don't care about child labor or I don't care about what happens with these agreements. Number two.
03:14But why then cancel the program? But number two, I do have to recommend and say to you all that because these are subject to litigation, I really can't talk about this. I know you know that. And it's no disrespect. I just want you to know.
03:26And I have no disrespect as well. No frustration that I have as a former congressman that I wish I could share with you if they weren't subject to litigation.
03:33Child labor, labor reform, all that benefits American workers, doesn't put them at a disadvantage, is being scuttled.
03:41It's done and we can get no answer as to why that's the case. So I'm, my view is that that mission is, is gone. We're not going to be there to protect American workers.
03:53We will protect American workers. That's my first and foremost focus. Yes, well, here. But you can have a focus, but your actions have got to tie in with your focus.
04:05If your actions are contrary to your focus, then you're not meeting the mission. Okay, let me talk about National Apprenticeships Day this year.
04:15You stated that you, quote, will personally ensure that the Labor Department is helping to fulfill our bold goal of exceeding one million active apprentices.
04:22I'm for that. Registered apprenticeship programs work. They're the best.
04:26However, last week you celebrated with Elon Musk's Doja Count as you canceled more than two dozen Women in the Apprenticeship and Non-Traditional Occupations grants, WANTO,
04:36which is administered by the Women's Bureau and it supports women in trades like construction and manufacturing,
04:41including a grant to North Carolina nonprofit that works with local builders, trains women to enter the construction fields in Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill,
04:49a grant to a Biloxi, Mississippi nonprofit that trains women for construction jobs.
04:53You are decimating the Women's Bureau and WANTO grants that help women gain vital skills and better paying jobs.
04:59Madam Secretary, women make up less than 25% of the workforce in these trades.
05:03Why should we believe that your promises on active apprenticeships when you and Elon Musk are canceling the grants designed to help women fill in demand jobs in communities nationwide?
05:15Well, thank you. And you should believe me because I am a woman and I am in the workforce and I do care about all American workers.
05:22And we will be focused on those in the Labor Department as well. And statutorily, the Women's Bureau is in statute.
05:28Yes, it is. We will work hard to focus on all American workers. And I cannot say more than that on that grant cuts because it is subject to litigation.
05:35Well, I would just say this. If we're going to help women become more than 25% of the folks in those in demand jobs,
05:43then the programs that Elon Musk and yourself and the president are terminating, then that does not meet the goal.
05:52So aside from litigation, it is not going to work to help women in the workforce. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
