President Trump yesterday announced his intention to nominate Marvin Kaplan to one of the two vacant seats at the National Labor Relations Board. The announcement, posted on the White House website, reads:
Marvin Kaplan of Kansas to be a Member of the National Labor Relations Board for the remainder of a five-year term expiring August 27, 2020. Mr. Kaplan is currently the Chief Counsel of the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. Prior to joining the Commission, he spent almost seven years serving as Counsel, first to the U.S. House Oversight and Government Reform Committee and then to the U.S. House Education and the Workforce Committee. In those positions, Mr. Marvin was responsible for labor and employment oversight and policy, including the National Labor Relations Act, Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act, and Labor Management Relations Act. In 2007, he began his public service as a Special Assistant in the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Labor-Management and Standards. Mr. Marvin received a B.S. from Cornell University and a J.D. from Washington University in St. Louis.
There are currently two vacancies on the Board, leaving a bare quorum and 2-1 majority of Democrat appointees. The term of the sole Republican on the Board, Chairman Phil Miscimarra, expires in December 2017.