We are pleased that the Senate was able to reach agreement and confirm the nominations of Brian Hayes and Mark Pearce to the National Labor Relations Board. The Board functions best when it has a full complement of confirmed Members and we are now much closer to that important goal. Although the nominations of these two individuals were not controversial, it unfortunately took eleven months to confirm them because they were considered a ‘package’ with the controversial nomination of Craig Becker. As President Obama looks to fill current and future vacancies on the Board, we urge him to consider well-qualified nominees who can be quickly confirmed, rather than ideologues.

The nominations were part of a larger package of pending nominations approved by unanimous consent. This means that, at least temporarily, the Board is at full strength with three Democratic appointees and two Republican appointees. For the past year the Chamber and its Workforce Freedom Initiative have strongly opposed Craig Becker’s nomination to the Board, noting that his extreme views made him ill fit to serve. Notably, Becker was not among those confirmed for a full term.