washington senate finance committee thursday delay schedule vote president donald trump nominee u.s. trade representative due lack quorum among committee members republican senator orrin hatch committee chairman say hop nomination robert lighthizer administration top trade negotiate job could take congress two-week easter break end april 24. senate confirmation lighthizer nomination delay partly demand democrats finance committee first advance bill aim protect retire coal miners pension health care benefit one democrat senator ron wyden show start panel meet thursday also contribute delay question whether lighthizer veteran trade lawyer reagan-era deputy ustr need congressional waiver 1995 law prohibit ustr candidates work behalf foreign governments leave ustr well law pass lighthizer work brazil agriculture department late 1980s assist law firm colleague advise chinese electronics industry group early 1990s lighthizer strong support party pledge strengthen enforcement u.s. trade laws stop unfairly dump subsidize import waiver issue become leverage point democrats miners pension bill measure seek transfer certain pension obligations federal government provide fund prevent 22,800 retire coal miners lose healthcare benefit end april wyden say democrats concern need address confident find way positive strongly bipartisan markup mr. lighthizer senate panel delay vote trump trade nominee lighthizer