President-elect Donald Trump named Elaine Chao as his secretary of transportation.
Chao, the wife of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, served in President George W. Bush’s administration as secretary of labor from 2001 to 2009. Chao also served in President George H.W. Bush’s administration as deputy secretary of transportation from 1989 to 1991.
According to Reuters, Chao sits on the board of Vulcan Materials Co., as well as the boards of Ingersoll-Rand Co., Wells Fargo & Co. and News Corp. Come January, she will likely play a key role in helping to pass an infrastructure bill through Congress.
The National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association (NSSGA) received the Chao announcement warmly.
“NSSGA has enjoyed a solid working relationship with Secretary Chao going back to when she was deputy secretary at DOT (Department of Transportation) as well as during her time leading the Department of Labor which has MSHA (Mine Safety & Health Administration) under its purview,” says Mike Johnson, president and CEO at NSSGA. “We congratulate her on being nominated to lead the transportation department and look forward to working with her to implement President-elect Trump’s $1 trillion infrastructure plan.”
