PLASTICS Supports Cabinet Nominees

Since the start of the new Congress on January 3, the Senate has taken up its constitutional duty to provide advice and consent on President Donald Trump’s cabinet nominees. While the process of filling cabinet positions is taking longer than with past confirmations, PLASTICS has been engaged with our association partners in encouraging all senators to approve cabinet officials whose departments have major jurisdictions in manufacturing issues. The role these individuals will play in setting policy is crucial to our industry. 

PLASTICS signed on to letters to support the nominations of new Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin and Secretary of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Scott Pruitt and Wilbur Ross, nominee for Secretary of Commerce. PLASTICS believes these individuals are well suited to run the various departments for which they have been nominated.

On the Labor front, President Trump’s original nominee for Secretary of Labor, CEO of CKE Restaurants Andrew Puzder, withdrew his name for consideration after losing support from Senate Republicans and past personal and professional allegations called into question whether he would receive votes necessary for confirmation. As such, President Trump responded by nominating Alexander Acosta to be Secretary of Labor. Acosta served on the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and in the Department of Justice as assistant attorney general for civil rights and U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Florida all during the George W. Bush administration. He is the current dean of the law school at Florida International University. He is a Cuban-American and, if confirmed, would be the first Latino member of the Trump Cabinet.