U.S. Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer completed her “America at Work” listening tour on Monday with a visit to Tulsa, Oklahoma. One year ago, Secretary Chavez-DeRemer set out to meet with workers and employers in all 50 states and committed to bring their stories back to Washington to shape federal labor policies and practices.
“When I became Labor Secretary, I promised to deliver on President Trump’s mission to put American workers first – and that began by getting out of the Washington bubble and meeting workers where they’re at,” said Secretary Chavez-DeRemer. “Whether it was a carpenters training facility in Colorado, an oyster hatchery in Maryland, a family-owned countertop manufacturer in Minnesota, or a fire academy in Oklahoma – the workers I’ve met with feel supported by the President’s efforts to put America First. The investments that President Trump has made in the workforce are paying off, and his historic Working Families Tax Cuts are delivering results for workers and employers across the country. I look forward to another three years of meeting with American Workers and fighting to put them first in everything we do at the Department of Labor.”
The Secretary stopped in Hawaii last week as her 49th state, meeting with workers from the Dole Plantation, the Culinary Institute of the Pacific, as well as a variety of other industries. Beginning at Moanalua High School, she joined the Culinary Institute as they served breakfast to students, showcasing their efforts to empower local businesses and farms. She later enjoyed hands-on participation in planting and harvesting pineapple on the 700-acre Dole Plantation while learning from employees with multiple decades of experience.
The visit also included remarks at the Hawaii Workforce Development Council’s very first Internship Summit, followed by an award ceremony celebrating interns and internship programs across the Hawaiian Islands. Secretary Chavez-DeRemer presented the intern of the year with an award for her hard work and encouraged attendees to make the most of every opportunity.
Wrapping up her listening tour in Oklahoma, the Secretary visited an American Airlines maintenance facility and the Fire Academy in Tulsa. American Airlines’ Tulsa base is the world’s largest commercial aviation maintenance facility. Along with company executives, Secretary Chavez-DeRemer walked the grounds, engaged with workers, and observed how new innovations are making aviation more reliable and safer for workers and customers alike. At the fire station, the Secretary interacted with firefighters and operated some of their drone technologies. She also met with and encouraged apprentices who will be graduating from their training at the end of the month.
The Secretary launched her listening tour last year in Northeastern Pennsylvania with a roundtable discussion hosted by local union leaders.
Throughout her many visits, Secretary Chavez-DeRemer has achieved her goals to:
- Foster partnerships between businesses, unions, and educators to create a stronger workforce pipeline.
- Strengthen pathways to good-paying, sustainable jobs across U.S. industries.
- Identify ways to improve workforce development and enhance economic prosperity.
- Promote skills training, apprenticeships, and career education that meet modern workforce needs.
- Cut red tape stifling innovation or job growth while protecting workers’ rights.
- Support federal labor policies that empower both workers and job creators.
- Champion Made in America jobs and the industries that drive them.
- Highlight best practices from the communities getting it right by showcasing America at Work.
- Above all, put American workers first.
To see highlights from the Secretary’s 50-state America at Work tour, click here .