ICYMI: Secretary Chavez-DeRemer celebrates National Tradesmen Day during America at Work listening tour in Alaska

News Release

ICYMI: Secretary Chavez-DeRemer celebrates National Tradesmen Day during America at Work listening tour in Alaska

FAIRBANKS, AK - In recognition of National Tradesmen Day, U.S. Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer brought her America at Work listening tour to Alaska last week where she highlighted how the Trump Administration is investing in rebuilding the skilled workforce needed to restore American energy dominance and unleash economic prosperity.

While in Alaska, the Secretary toured a family-owned pipe manufacturing and insulation company and joined Sen. Dan Sullivan for a visit to a state-of-the-art training center preparing Alaskans for careers in the oil, gas, and construction industries.

"Under President Trump's leadership, we are expanding apprenticeships to build a steady pipeline of talent to restore domestic energy production and advance our mission to Make America Skilled Again," said Secretary Chavez-DeRemer. "Alaska's skilled workers are at the heart of America's economic resurgence, and I'm grateful to Senator Sullivan for the opportunity to see firsthand how Alaskans are working hard to restore American energy dominance."

"I want to thank Secretary Chavez-DeRemer for joining me in Fairbanks, keeping a commitment she made to me during her confirmation process to visit our great state. We toured the state-of-the-art facilities of the Fairbanks Pipeline Training Center and then had a productive roundtable with labor leaders, and state and local officials," said Sen. Dan Sullivan. "Between the major resource provisions in the recently signed budget reconciliation bill, the resurgence of oil production on the North Slope, new momentum behind the Alaska LNG project, and the billions of dollars in military, Coast Guard and infrastructure investments coming to Alaska - we are on the verge of a strong economic comeback. I look forward to working with the secretary to build the skilled workforce we need, train Alaskans for the incredible job opportunities coming to our state, and strengthen our economy for the benefit of Alaska's working families."

Flowline Alaska

On Sept. 18, Secretary Chavez-DeRemer toured Flowline Alaska's manufacturing and welding facilities to see how the company supports vital pipeline projects across Alaska's North Slope. She observed the production of steel pipe insulation, corrosion coatings, pipe spool fabrication, double joint welding, and module and skid fabrication, which are critical for maintaining a reliable supply chain and sustaining robust oil production to unleash American energy.

Fairbanks Pipeline Training Center

On Sept. 19, Secretary Chavez-DeRemer and Sen. Sullivan visited the Fairbanks Pipeline Training Center, a leading regional hub preparing Alaskans for skilled trade careers. They toured the facility's welding center to meet with pipefitter apprentices gaining hands-on training for pipeline assembly and installation. The group then visited the field site's heavy equipment mechanic and Teamsters truck shops to see how apprentices train together to install pipes on Alaska's North Slope.

During the visit, the Secretary highlighted how the department is delivering on President Trump's Executive Order on Preparing Americans for High-Paying Skilled Trade Jobs of the Future. She noted that over 180,000 new Registered Apprentices have been added since January, helping to build a strong, reliable pipeline of skilled workers across the country and meet the President's goal of one million active apprentices.

Following the tour, the Secretary joined state legislators, business and labor leaders, and local Teamsters members for a roundtable discussion focused on how a skilled workforce is key to restoring American energy dominance.

Alaska marked Secretary Chavez-DeRemer's 34th state on her nationwide America at Work listening tour, which she launched in early April to hear more about the challenges and opportunities facing everyday Americans. Recently, the Secretary toured a nationally recognized shipbuilding apprenticeship school and visited local manufacturers in Virginia to highlight President Trump's pro-growth, pro-worker agenda.