DeLauro racks up labor endorsements for Appropriations gavel

Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) on Monday secured a major endorsement from the AFL-CIO in her quest to chair the powerful House Appropriations Committee. 

“A workers first agenda means raising wages and investing in infrastructure, education, health care, clean energy and workplace safety. That agenda will be in good hands with @rosadelauro as @AppropsDems Chair,” AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka tweeted in announcing the endorsement.

DeLauro, who chairs the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education appropriations subcommittee covering the largest non-defense spending bill, has also touted endorsements from other major figures in Democratic labor politics, including American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten and National Education Association President Becky Pringle.

The endorsements, along with a long-standing friendship with Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), may help boost DeLauro in a race to succeed retiring Chairwoman Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.). 

Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio), has more seniority on the committee than DeLauro and is also pressing for the chairmanship. Florida Rep. Debbie Wasserman-Shultz (D-Fla.) is also in the running for the chair.

The Democratic Steering and Policy Committee nominates a member of each standing committee to be its chair.

Under the caucus’s rules, members are to consider merit, length of service on the panel and the degree of commitment to the Democratic agenda, as well as diversity, in making the pick.

Seniority is generally considered an important factor but the caucus rules say it does not necessarily need to be followed.

Democrats will pick chairmanships the week of Nov. 30, after picking its leadership in internal caucus elections on Nov. 17 and 18.