In a late afternoon vote, the Senate on Monday confirmed the
nomination of Lauren McFerran to serve as member of the National
Labor Relations Board. The final tally was 54-40 along party
lines. McFerran – who will replace outgoing member Nancy
Schiffer – will remain a member of the Board until December
16, 2019.
McFerran's nomination came as a surprise to many, as former
recess appointee Sharon Block had been President Obama's
original choice to replace Schiffer. The President
unexpectedly withdrew her nomination on November 12. Although
Block and McFerran, currently chief labor counsel to the Senate
Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP), likely
share a common ideology regarding labor unions, McFerran carries
less political baggage. During a HELP Committee hearing to consider
McFerran's nomination, Ranking Member Lamar Alexander (R-TN)
considered the withdrawal of Block's nomination a "gesture
of respect" to the Senate following the Supreme