Yesterday the National Economic Council called a meeting of the Supply Chain Disruptions Task Force, which the Biden-Harris administration launched in 2021, to discuss the impact of the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge and the partial closure of the Port of Baltimore on regional and national supply chains. The task force draws members from the White House and the departments of Transportation, Commerce, Agriculture, Defense, Labor, Health and Human Services, Energy, and Homeland Security. It is focused on coordinating efforts to divert ships to other ports and to minimize impacts to employers and workers, making sure, for example, that dock workers stay on payrolls.
About once a week I stay late at my office, seeing patients until 8 PM and then doing charts, notes, reviewing test results, patient messages, and even a new post for my substack after all the clinical work is done (!), but as I drive home around midnight there has been a highway construction crew working through the night on route 70 outside of Philly. In cold weather, freezing weather, rain, heat waves, and everything in between. They are breathing in road construction dust and VOC’s, losing hearing to jackhammers and heavy machinery, increasing their personal health risks with sleep deprivation and night shift work, and putting themselves in harm’s way with potentially careless and sleepy and perhaps drunk drivers who speed by. Immigrants and non-immigrants, I’m sure there are both working those hours — I salute their courage, stamina, and work ethic. I’m sure there are many complex reasons why they have to work these hours at such peril and personal cost, so that we who work the day shifts might be less inconvenienced by road construction.
But it always feels wrong driving past them, exhausted as I am from a full day of working, too, but headed to a bed and a privileged place in the daylight the next day.
Mar 29·edited Mar 29Liked by Heather Cox Richardson
Thank you for this lesson on immigration. I’d heard about the “No Irish need apply” signs in New York when my mother’s people came over.
I cringe at the new underclass being created by undercutting the labor protections of teenagers (usually immigrants or the children of undocumented people). These students are working 8 hour shifts after school and are often forced to do extremely hazardous work. There is little time to do homework or sleep.
The legal ramifications of the collapse are catastrophic. What I still want to understand is how the Dali's multiple fail safe systems failed. It has been described as a "perfect storm" of complimentary failures but I want the facts of how a ship this enormous could have multiple compounding catastrophic failures.
My heart hurts so for those who lost their lives and their families wherever they may be on our shared planet.
I feel such respect and pride in the leadership response of so many to this horror.
I think President Biden is the most competent President in our history.
Thank you for this historical perspective. How far the party of Lincoln has fallen.
You are right. The six workers died as Americans. However, even if they are documented, they and their survivors likely do not have the protections that citizens would have.
As for the Republicans sniveling and whining about funding the necessary work to clear the river and rebuild the bridge…..where oh where is thy humanity.
In my opinion, this is exactly the situation where the federal government needs to step in. Disasters, be they man made as in this case or natural, as well as an attack by a foreign country is exactly what the government is meant to cope with. The Republicans are mired in partisan politics. Trump is whispering in their ears and pulling the strings. Don’t do anything that would help Biden. Don’t give money to a blue state.
Let’s wash these selfish short sighted immoral and unfeeling sad excuses for human beings away in a blue tsunami. They are not public servants. They are self serving grifters.
She speaks the truth I've always felt about immigrants to the U.S. -- and the strengths, openness, and freedoms they contribute, beyond the labor that keeps America open.
Two of my grandparents were immigrants, both from the old Austro-Hungarian empire, both coming to the U.S. three years apart, 120 years ago. Both speaking Hungarian and Slovak. Neither knowing each other till they met in one of the coal towns south of Pittsburgh. She, five years older than him, and six inches taller. Thus, she had effectively no life back in her village in a Slovak valley in Hungary.
My other grandparents were Scotch-Irish mostly, with a little German -- and had come to the U.S. poor before the U.S. declared independence from the crown in 1776. Their people emigrated away from the 13 colonies, over the Appalachians in defiance of royal orders forbidding that.
So much I appreciate the words of our Heather today -- even her quoting Reagan backing up Lincoln on the vitality, boost to real democracy which immigrants have always given America.
The workers who died in the bridge collapse on Tuesday “were not ‘poisoning the blood of our country,’” Will Bunch wrote, quoting Trump; “they were replenishing it…. They may have been born all over the continent, but when these men plunged into our waters on Tuesday, they died as Americans.”
Thank you for a very helpful reminder of our country’s history, much of it shameful in regards to each generation’s current immigrants.
Sad how quickly people that are themselves descendants of immigrants turn on those behind them (“pulling the ladder up behind them”).
I’ll bet few of the current GQP would believe Reagan’s speech actually occurred. They forget that while he did many despicable (and criminal) things, he wasn’t nearly as anti-immigrant as the current GQP scumwads.
There are many stories such as this one about child laborers in other companies in the USA.
'Kids as young as 14 were found working at a Tennessee factory that makes lawn mower parts for John Deere and others' (NBCNEWS, Child Labor, By Laura Strickler)
'The company, Tuff Torq, was fined nearly $300,000 for hiring 10 children. It must also set aside $1.5 million to help the immigrant minors who were illegally employed.'
Immigrant children as young as 14 were found working illegally amid dangerous heavy equipment at a Tennessee firm that makes parts for lawn mowers sold by John Deere and other companies, according to Labor Department officials.
The company, Tuff Torq, was fined nearly $300,000 for hiring 10 children. As part of a consent agreement with the federal government, the company is also required to set aside $1.5 million to help the children who were illegally employed. Ryan Pott, general counsel for Tuff Torq’s majority owner, the Japanese firm Yanmar, acknowledged the violations to NBC News.
“The department will not tolerate companies profiting on the backs of children employed unlawfully in dangerous occupations,” said Seema Nanda, the department’s chief legal officer, whose office obtained the consent judgment against Tuff Torq. “Tuff Torq has agreed to disgorge profits, which will go to the benefit of the children. This sends a clear message: putting children in harm’s way in the workplace is not only illegal, but also comes with significant financial consequences.”
The Labor Department did not specify what work the children were doing. But Labor official Juan Coria said what his investigative team found in Tuff Torq’s “very busy” Morristown manufacturing plant was “astonishing.”
'Coria, southeast regional administrator for the Labor Department’s Wage and Hour Division, described an environment that he says caused anxiety among his investigators who witnessed children as young as 14 working late at night at the 24-hour manufacturing facility amid power-driven equipment that was being moved around the plant.'
'Pott, the general counsel for Tuff Torq’s majority owner, said the child workers were temporary and were not hired directly by Tuff Torq. He said they used fake names and false credentials to obtain jobs through a temporary staffing agency, and said Tuff Torq is “transitioning” away from doing business with the staffing company.'
“Tuff Torq is dedicated to ensuring that their products and services are produced under ethical conditions, with a strong emphasis on fair labor practices, and Tuff Torq is further strengthening our relevant training and compliance programs,” said Pott. “We are also actively engaging with our suppliers to reinforce our expectations regarding ethical labor practices and collaborate with them on implementing our updated policies.”
'According to the Labor Department, within 30 days Tuff Torq must also hang signs at every entrance to the plant that say, “Stop! You must be at least 18 years of age to enter and work in this building.” (NBCNews) See link below.
Thank you Heather, this could not be more timely. I was reading this morning a book by Teilhard de Chardin the Jesuit Priest, paleontologist and Philosopher where he compares the beautiful diversification of nature must also apply to society to thrive and be resilient. Your essay speaks to the need, incredible opportunity and necessity that immigration has served us in the past and is an essential path to our future. We don’t need a wall, we need an intelligent gate.
What a stirring tribute by Will Bunch - “they died as Americans!” What are we so damned afraid of? How did such a large swath of us become such little, ugly people? Have we no capability to share our bounty? To put a hand out to those who have come after our own immigrant ancestors came here? The frigid waters of the Patapsco didn’t care whether they had papers or not. Neither should we. I remember the words of John Adams from “1776” when he was questioned as to whether he really meant that slaves were citizens. “They’re here and they’re people. I don’t know of any other requirement.” Whether he really said those words or not, the concept remains. They were here and they were people. That should be enough.
Brilliant powerful letter Taking the trafic current event to a strong defense of our immigrants And wrapping it into a fascinating history lesson on immigration Again wish all in this country of immigrants would read this to create an understanding of what made and continues to make this a living nation dedicated to to all people
Thank you Heather for a moving accounting of those 6 brave souls who perished while working on the bridge that collapsed. I hope this situation will also focus on how Biden’s infrastructure plan is a key component to rebuilding our nation and moving it forward. Blessings for your hard work. It can’t be easy but it is a noble gesture toward saving our nation from senseless harm 🇺🇸🗽🗳️🕯️🥁
“The workers who died in the bridge collapse on Tuesday “were not ‘poisoning the blood of our country,’” Will Bunch wrote, quoting Trump; “they were replenishing it…. They may have been born all over the continent, but when these men plunged into our waters on Tuesday, they died as .Americans.”
About once a week I stay late at my office, seeing patients until 8 PM and then doing charts, notes, reviewing test results, patient messages, and even a new post for my substack after all the clinical work is done (!), but as I drive home around midnight there has been a highway construction crew working through the night on route 70 outside of Philly. In cold weather, freezing weather, rain, heat waves, and everything in between. They are breathing in road construction dust and VOC’s, losing hearing to jackhammers and heavy machinery, increasing their personal health risks with sleep deprivation and night shift work, and putting themselves in harm’s way with potentially careless and sleepy and perhaps drunk drivers who speed by. Immigrants and non-immigrants, I’m sure there are both working those hours — I salute their courage, stamina, and work ethic. I’m sure there are many complex reasons why they have to work these hours at such peril and personal cost, so that we who work the day shifts might be less inconvenienced by road construction.
But it always feels wrong driving past them, exhausted as I am from a full day of working, too, but headed to a bed and a privileged place in the daylight the next day.
Speaking of which, good night 😴
Thank you for this lesson on immigration. I’d heard about the “No Irish need apply” signs in New York when my mother’s people came over.
I cringe at the new underclass being created by undercutting the labor protections of teenagers (usually immigrants or the children of undocumented people). These students are working 8 hour shifts after school and are often forced to do extremely hazardous work. There is little time to do homework or sleep.
https://www.kuaf.com/show/ozarks-at-large/2023-08-15/new-law-weakening-child-labor-protections-in-arkansas-takes-effect?_amp=true
The legal ramifications of the collapse are catastrophic. What I still want to understand is how the Dali's multiple fail safe systems failed. It has been described as a "perfect storm" of complimentary failures but I want the facts of how a ship this enormous could have multiple compounding catastrophic failures.
My heart hurts so for those who lost their lives and their families wherever they may be on our shared planet.
I feel such respect and pride in the leadership response of so many to this horror.
I think President Biden is the most competent President in our history.
Thank you for this historical perspective. How far the party of Lincoln has fallen.
You are right. The six workers died as Americans. However, even if they are documented, they and their survivors likely do not have the protections that citizens would have.
As for the Republicans sniveling and whining about funding the necessary work to clear the river and rebuild the bridge…..where oh where is thy humanity.
In my opinion, this is exactly the situation where the federal government needs to step in. Disasters, be they man made as in this case or natural, as well as an attack by a foreign country is exactly what the government is meant to cope with. The Republicans are mired in partisan politics. Trump is whispering in their ears and pulling the strings. Don’t do anything that would help Biden. Don’t give money to a blue state.
Let’s wash these selfish short sighted immoral and unfeeling sad excuses for human beings away in a blue tsunami. They are not public servants. They are self serving grifters.
One of my favorites of Heather's of all time.
She speaks the truth I've always felt about immigrants to the U.S. -- and the strengths, openness, and freedoms they contribute, beyond the labor that keeps America open.
Two of my grandparents were immigrants, both from the old Austro-Hungarian empire, both coming to the U.S. three years apart, 120 years ago. Both speaking Hungarian and Slovak. Neither knowing each other till they met in one of the coal towns south of Pittsburgh. She, five years older than him, and six inches taller. Thus, she had effectively no life back in her village in a Slovak valley in Hungary.
My other grandparents were Scotch-Irish mostly, with a little German -- and had come to the U.S. poor before the U.S. declared independence from the crown in 1776. Their people emigrated away from the 13 colonies, over the Appalachians in defiance of royal orders forbidding that.
So much I appreciate the words of our Heather today -- even her quoting Reagan backing up Lincoln on the vitality, boost to real democracy which immigrants have always given America.
HCR wrote:
The workers who died in the bridge collapse on Tuesday “were not ‘poisoning the blood of our country,’” Will Bunch wrote, quoting Trump; “they were replenishing it…. They may have been born all over the continent, but when these men plunged into our waters on Tuesday, they died as Americans.”
My thoughts …
The GOP is poisoning the blood of our country. 🤮
Thank you for a very helpful reminder of our country’s history, much of it shameful in regards to each generation’s current immigrants.
Sad how quickly people that are themselves descendants of immigrants turn on those behind them (“pulling the ladder up behind them”).
I’ll bet few of the current GQP would believe Reagan’s speech actually occurred. They forget that while he did many despicable (and criminal) things, he wasn’t nearly as anti-immigrant as the current GQP scumwads.
There are many stories such as this one about child laborers in other companies in the USA.
'Kids as young as 14 were found working at a Tennessee factory that makes lawn mower parts for John Deere and others' (NBCNEWS, Child Labor, By Laura Strickler)
'The company, Tuff Torq, was fined nearly $300,000 for hiring 10 children. It must also set aside $1.5 million to help the immigrant minors who were illegally employed.'
Immigrant children as young as 14 were found working illegally amid dangerous heavy equipment at a Tennessee firm that makes parts for lawn mowers sold by John Deere and other companies, according to Labor Department officials.
The company, Tuff Torq, was fined nearly $300,000 for hiring 10 children. As part of a consent agreement with the federal government, the company is also required to set aside $1.5 million to help the children who were illegally employed. Ryan Pott, general counsel for Tuff Torq’s majority owner, the Japanese firm Yanmar, acknowledged the violations to NBC News.
“The department will not tolerate companies profiting on the backs of children employed unlawfully in dangerous occupations,” said Seema Nanda, the department’s chief legal officer, whose office obtained the consent judgment against Tuff Torq. “Tuff Torq has agreed to disgorge profits, which will go to the benefit of the children. This sends a clear message: putting children in harm’s way in the workplace is not only illegal, but also comes with significant financial consequences.”
The Labor Department did not specify what work the children were doing. But Labor official Juan Coria said what his investigative team found in Tuff Torq’s “very busy” Morristown manufacturing plant was “astonishing.”
'Coria, southeast regional administrator for the Labor Department’s Wage and Hour Division, described an environment that he says caused anxiety among his investigators who witnessed children as young as 14 working late at night at the 24-hour manufacturing facility amid power-driven equipment that was being moved around the plant.'
'Pott, the general counsel for Tuff Torq’s majority owner, said the child workers were temporary and were not hired directly by Tuff Torq. He said they used fake names and false credentials to obtain jobs through a temporary staffing agency, and said Tuff Torq is “transitioning” away from doing business with the staffing company.'
“Tuff Torq is dedicated to ensuring that their products and services are produced under ethical conditions, with a strong emphasis on fair labor practices, and Tuff Torq is further strengthening our relevant training and compliance programs,” said Pott. “We are also actively engaging with our suppliers to reinforce our expectations regarding ethical labor practices and collaborate with them on implementing our updated policies.”
'According to the Labor Department, within 30 days Tuff Torq must also hang signs at every entrance to the plant that say, “Stop! You must be at least 18 years of age to enter and work in this building.” (NBCNews) See link below.
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/child-labor-tennessee-kids-young-14-lawn-mower-tuff-torq-john-deere-rcna144938
Thank you Heather, this could not be more timely. I was reading this morning a book by Teilhard de Chardin the Jesuit Priest, paleontologist and Philosopher where he compares the beautiful diversification of nature must also apply to society to thrive and be resilient. Your essay speaks to the need, incredible opportunity and necessity that immigration has served us in the past and is an essential path to our future. We don’t need a wall, we need an intelligent gate.
I am so grateful for these letters Heather! Thank you so much for your dedication. You are a brilliant light in all of this darkness.
What a stirring tribute by Will Bunch - “they died as Americans!” What are we so damned afraid of? How did such a large swath of us become such little, ugly people? Have we no capability to share our bounty? To put a hand out to those who have come after our own immigrant ancestors came here? The frigid waters of the Patapsco didn’t care whether they had papers or not. Neither should we. I remember the words of John Adams from “1776” when he was questioned as to whether he really meant that slaves were citizens. “They’re here and they’re people. I don’t know of any other requirement.” Whether he really said those words or not, the concept remains. They were here and they were people. That should be enough.
Another excellent letter today, on a difficult topic.
Yes. Thank you. Your letter is much needed today.
Brilliant powerful letter Taking the trafic current event to a strong defense of our immigrants And wrapping it into a fascinating history lesson on immigration Again wish all in this country of immigrants would read this to create an understanding of what made and continues to make this a living nation dedicated to to all people
Thanks and Bravo Heather
Thank you Heather for a moving accounting of those 6 brave souls who perished while working on the bridge that collapsed. I hope this situation will also focus on how Biden’s infrastructure plan is a key component to rebuilding our nation and moving it forward. Blessings for your hard work. It can’t be easy but it is a noble gesture toward saving our nation from senseless harm 🇺🇸🗽🗳️🕯️🥁
“The workers who died in the bridge collapse on Tuesday “were not ‘poisoning the blood of our country,’” Will Bunch wrote, quoting Trump; “they were replenishing it…. They may have been born all over the continent, but when these men plunged into our waters on Tuesday, they died as .Americans.”