VIDEO: Capito Delivers Opening Statement at Hearing Examining Department of Labor Budget

To watch Chairman Capito's opening remarks, click here or the image above.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor-HHS), chaired a hearing with Deputy Secretary and Acting Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling to consider President Trump's Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) budget request for the U.S. Department of Labor, as well as the many priorities of the agency.

Below is Chairman Capito's opening statement as prepared for delivery:

"Good morning. Acting Secretary Sonderling, thank you for being here today to testify to the president's fiscal year 2027 budget request for the Department of Labor.

"I am pleased to be joined by my friend Senator Baldwin, the ranking member of the subcommittee. I look forward to continuing our bipartisan work throughout the FY27 appropriations process. I also welcome our full committee chair, Senator Collins, and vice chair, Senator Murray.

"Under President Trump's leadership, the Department of Labor is putting American workers first. I am encouraged to see the department taking steps to strengthen our workforce and cut regulatory red tape so that our nation's job creators can hire, invest, and compete. The fiscal year 2027 budget request builds on this progress by prioritizing investments that expand workforce training opportunities, support economic growth, and keep our workers safe. I look forward to hearing more about how this budget advances the department's priorities while ensuring that our hardworking taxpayers' dollars are well spent.

"The American economy continues to demonstrate strong growth. Just last month, the economy added 115,000 jobs-far exceeding expectations-and the unemployment rate remained low at 4.3 percent. Wages also continue to rise, with average hourly earnings up 3.6 percent over the past year. And thanks to the Working Families Tax Cuts, small businesses are finally gaining the confidence to expand and create jobs here at home.

"Yet, businesses across the country are still facing persistent workforce shortages. This challenge is particularly prevalent in my home state of West Virginia, where our workforce participation rate remains among the lowest in the country. This is why it is so important that our workers have access to robust workforce training programs - especially those that provide on-the-job training and those focused on in-demand jobs.

"Last year, the department hit a significant milestone - registering more than 2,300 new apprenticeship programs and adding nearly 300,000 new apprentices nationwide. This is an important step in meeting our country's workforce needs, but more must be done. I hope to see DOL continue to build on this success and expand apprenticeship opportunities to new programs and fields, as many valuable apprenticeship opportunities don't fit the current registered apprenticeship model. I look forward to learning more about how this budget will support flexible and innovative career pathways and advance President Trump's goal of surpassing 1 million active apprentices.

"While developing a highly skilled workforce is critical, it is only part of the equation. We must continue advancing common-sense policies to create an economic environment where businesses can thrive and create good, family-sustaining jobs. As we saw with the last administration, excessive government regulations and overreach are major impediments to job growth. Under President Trump's leadership, the department has taken important steps to roll back these overly burdensome regulations.

"For example, I was pleased to see DOL move to rescind and replace the Biden administration's harmful and misguided independent contractor rule. That rule threatened the flexibility that so many truck drivers, electricians, and other independent contractors in West Virginia rely on. The Trump administration recognizes that many Americans value the freedom and opportunity that come with being their own boss and choosing the work arrangements that best fit their needs. The new proposed rule would help preserve that flexibility while providing greater clarity and certainty for workers and job creators alike.

"The department has also expanded its use of opinion letters and compliance assistance to help employers better understand and comply with labor laws. I regularly hear from small businesses in West Virginia about the challenges of navigating an increasingly complex and constantly changing regulatory landscape. Most employers want to do the right thing and follow the law, but they need clear guidance and workable rules to do so. That is why it is so important to prioritize compliance assistance instead of immediately turning to enforcement actions and costly litigation. This commonsense approach allows employers to invest in their workers and their local economy instead of legal fees.

"However, to be clear, not all regulations are bad. Appropriate protections are essential to keeping hardworking West Virginians safe, especially our miners. West Virginia is the second-largest coal-producing state in the nation, and with President Trump taking action to restore American energy dominance, our miners will play an even greater role in powering our country and keeping the lights on for millions of Americans.

"But we cannot lose sight of the fact that mining remains one of the most dangerous professions in this country. In West Virginia alone, six miners lost their lives last year. Every one of those losses is a tragedy, and I hope we can continue working together to prevent future tragedies from devastating our mining communities. I look forward to hearing more about the administration's plans to ensure our workplaces are safe so that every worker can return home safely to their loved ones at the end of the day.

"As we move forward in the fiscal year 2027 appropriations process, I look forward to partnering with you to deliver real results for American workers, businesses, and taxpayers. Thank you again for being here today."

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