Information contained in this publication is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or opinion, nor is it a substitute for the professional judgment of an attorney.
In an effort to expedite confirmation of Lauren McFerran to serve as a Member of the National Labor Relations Board, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) has scheduled a full committee hearing for next Thursday, November 20 to discuss her candidacy. In a surprise move, on November 12 President Obama withdrew his nomination of former NLRB recess appointee Sharon Block and nominated the HELP Committee's chief labor counsel to replace outgoing member Nancy Schiffer, whose term expires on December 16, 2014.
Assuming the HELP Committee, which comprises 12 Democratic and 10 Republican Senators, approves her nomination, it is unclear when the full Senate will vote on McFerran's nomination. The Senate faces a backlog of Presidential appointment confirmation votes before the lame duck session adjourns and the 114th Congress reconvenes. If confirmed, McFerran would remain a Board member until December 16, 2019.
