Labor Secretary Nominee Walsh Moving Toward Final Senate Vote

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) filed for cloture Monday evening on Marty Walsh’s nomination to serve as U.S. labor secretary, an action that will likely set up a final vote in coming days.

• Schumer’s action paves the way for a vote to limit debate on Walsh’s nomination later this week. Once that hurdle is cleared, Walsh will then be eligible for a confirmation vote, which is likely to take place early next week.
• Walsh, a two-term Democratic mayor of Boston, was approved by the Senate labor panel in a bipartisan vote Feb. 11. He’s likely to be confirmed with at least a handful of GOP votes.
• During a confirmation hearing Feb. 4, the former Boston building trades leader pledged to partner with Democrats to advance a robust worker advocacy agenda but also expressed an openness to working with Republicans and respecting employer concerns.