WASHINGTON — Jessica Looman, a former labor union and Minnesota state official, has been running a key agency of the U.S. Labor Department for more than two years, without being confirmed as the official boss.

On Wednesday, Looman’s nomination to head the Wage and Hour Division is likely to be approved by the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pension (HELP) Committee, which would pave the way for a confirmation vote by the full Senate.

Looman’s supporters, mostly the nation’s labor unions and especially the construction trades, hope Looman wins confirmation. But that’s not assured. Most Senate Republicans remain steadfastly opposed to the nomination and Democrats need 60 votes to confirm her and only have 51 seats.

This would be the second time the HELP Committee considers Looman’s nomination. The panel approved Looman’s nomination last year after she was chosen by President Biden to become the administrator of the Wage and Hour Division. But the Senate never acted to confirm her.

Sen. Tina Smith, D-Minn., pressed for a confirmation vote on Dec. 22, the last day of the 117^th Congress for the U.S. Senate.

But Republican senators objected to a procedural motion that would have allowed the confirmation vote to go forward.

“Blocking a well-qualified, bipartisan nominee is deeply disappointing to both Minnesotans and workers across this country who expect us to be in their corner,” Smith said at the time.

Biden, who re-nominated Looman last month, has had a tough time...

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