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	     We Must Protect the Workers Who Will Rebuild after Hurricane Harvey - Union of Concerned Scientists 
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			                <div class="the-thumbnail"><img width="79" height="79" src="https://cdn.blog.ucsusa.org/wp-content/uploads/fires-california-79x79.jpg" class="attachment-widget size-widget wp-image-56754 wp-post-image" alt="" srcset="https://cdn.blog.ucsusa.org/wp-content/uploads/fires-california-79x79.jpg 79w, https://cdn.blog.ucsusa.org/wp-content/uploads/fires-california-150x150.jpg 150w" sizes="(max-width: 79px) 100vw, 79px" /></div>
							<div class="the-title-date">
				                <h3><a href="https://blog.ucsusa.org/jamesine-rogers-gibson/why-climate-change-and-equity-matter-for-infrastructure-an-interview-with-chione-flegal-of-policylink" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link to Why Climate Change and Equity Matter for Infrastructure: An Interview with Chione Flegal of PolicyLink">Why Climate Change and Equity Matter for Infrastructure: An Interview with Chione Flegal of PolicyLink</a>
                				</h3>
				                <div class="article-content">                    
          							<p class="metadata"><a href="/author/jamesine-rogers-gibson">Jamesine Rogers Gibson</a> | February 13, 2018</p>                         
                				</div>
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		        		            		<div class="post-56363 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-food-and-agriculture tag-farm-bill tag-farm-bill-2018 tag-food-insecurity-nutrition-incentives tag-public-health tag-snap tag-trump-2019-budget" id="post-56363">	
			                <div class="the-thumbnail"><img width="79" height="79" src="https://cdn.blog.ucsusa.org/wp-content/uploads/fa-blog-fini-apple-79x79.jpg" class="attachment-widget size-widget wp-image-56730 wp-post-image" alt="" srcset="https://cdn.blog.ucsusa.org/wp-content/uploads/fa-blog-fini-apple-79x79.jpg 79w, https://cdn.blog.ucsusa.org/wp-content/uploads/fa-blog-fini-apple-150x150.jpg 150w" sizes="(max-width: 79px) 100vw, 79px" /></div>
							<div class="the-title-date">
				                <h3><a href="https://blog.ucsusa.org/sarah-reinhardt/president-trumps-2019-budget-nixes-popular-nutrition-program-for-farmers-and-families" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link to President Trump&#8217;s 2019 Budget Nixes Popular Nutrition Program for Farmers and Families">President Trump&#8217;s 2019 Budget Nixes Popular Nutrition Program for Farmers and Families</a>
                				</h3>
				                <div class="article-content">                    
          							<p class="metadata"><a href="/author/sarah-reinhardt">Sarah Reinhardt</a> | February 12, 2018</p>                         
                				</div>
							</div>		
						</div>
		        		            		<div class="post-56627 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-science-and-democracy tag-environmental-justice tag-scienceforjustice tag-science-for-public-good-fund" id="post-56627">	
			                <div class="the-thumbnail"><img width="79" height="79" src="https://cdn.blog.ucsusa.org/wp-content/uploads/csd-blog-door-prizes-79x79.jpg" class="attachment-widget size-widget wp-image-56630 wp-post-image" alt="" srcset="https://cdn.blog.ucsusa.org/wp-content/uploads/csd-blog-door-prizes-79x79.jpg 79w, https://cdn.blog.ucsusa.org/wp-content/uploads/csd-blog-door-prizes-150x150.jpg 150w" sizes="(max-width: 79px) 100vw, 79px" /></div>
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				                <h3><a href="https://blog.ucsusa.org/science-blogger/our-science-for-public-good-project-hosting-a-holiday-air-and-water-quality-party" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link to Our Science for Public Good Project: Hosting a Holiday Air and Water Quality Party">Our Science for Public Good Project: Hosting a Holiday Air and Water Quality Party</a>
                				</h3>
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          							<p class="metadata"><a href="/author/science-blogger">UCS Science Network</a> | February 12, 2018</p>                         
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		        		            		<div class="post-56697 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-energy tag-clean-energy tag-coal tag-coal-jobs tag-coal-in-context tag-epa-clean-power-plan" id="post-56697">	
			                <div class="the-thumbnail"><img width="79" height="79" src="https://cdn.blog.ucsusa.org/wp-content/uploads/1200-coal-79x79.jpg" class="attachment-widget size-widget wp-image-56706 wp-post-image" alt="" srcset="https://cdn.blog.ucsusa.org/wp-content/uploads/1200-coal-79x79.jpg 79w, https://cdn.blog.ucsusa.org/wp-content/uploads/1200-coal-150x150.jpg 150w" sizes="(max-width: 79px) 100vw, 79px" /></div>
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				                <h3><a href="https://blog.ucsusa.org/jeremy-richardson/the-truth-about-coal-in-under-three-minutes" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link to The Truth about Coal, in Under Three Minutes">The Truth about Coal, in Under Three Minutes</a>
                				</h3>
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          							<p class="metadata"><a href="/author/jeremy-richardson">Jeremy Richardson</a> | February 12, 2018</p>                         
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							</div>		
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		        		            		<div class="post-56634 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-energy category-global-warming category-science-and-democracy category-scientific-integrity" id="post-56634">	
			                <div class="the-thumbnail"><img width="79" height="79" src="https://cdn.blog.ucsusa.org/wp-content/uploads/inhofe2-e1518452873539-79x79.jpg" class="attachment-widget size-widget wp-image-56636 wp-post-image" alt="" srcset="https://cdn.blog.ucsusa.org/wp-content/uploads/inhofe2-e1518452873539-79x79.jpg 79w, https://cdn.blog.ucsusa.org/wp-content/uploads/inhofe2-e1518452873539-150x150.jpg 150w" sizes="(max-width: 79px) 100vw, 79px" /></div>
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				                <h3><a href="https://blog.ucsusa.org/elliott-negin/exxonmobils-climate-disinformation-campaign-is-still-alive-and-well" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link to ExxonMobil’s Climate Disinformation Campaign is Still Alive and Well">ExxonMobil’s Climate Disinformation Campaign is Still Alive and Well</a>
                				</h3>
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          							<p class="metadata"><a href="/author/elliott-negin">Elliott Negin</a> | February 12, 2018</p>                         
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		        		            		<div class="post-56663 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-science-and-democracy tag-epa tag-pollution tag-scott-pruitt tag-trump-administration" id="post-56663">	
			                <div class="the-thumbnail"><img width="79" height="79" src="https://cdn.blog.ucsusa.org/wp-content/uploads/xray-acute-exacerbation-COPD-wikimedia-contrast-79x79.jpg" class="attachment-widget size-widget wp-image-56687 wp-post-image" alt="" srcset="https://cdn.blog.ucsusa.org/wp-content/uploads/xray-acute-exacerbation-COPD-wikimedia-contrast-79x79.jpg 79w, https://cdn.blog.ucsusa.org/wp-content/uploads/xray-acute-exacerbation-COPD-wikimedia-contrast-150x150.jpg 150w" sizes="(max-width: 79px) 100vw, 79px" /></div>
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				                <h3><a href="https://blog.ucsusa.org/kathleen-rest/science-alert-to-epa-chief-pruitt-pollution-kills-people" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link to Science Alert to EPA Chief Pruitt: Pollution Kills People">Science Alert to EPA Chief Pruitt: Pollution Kills People</a>
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				                <div class="article-content">                    
          							<p class="metadata"><a href="/author/kathleen-rest">Kathleen Rest</a> | February 12, 2018</p>                         
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		        		            		<div class="post-56624 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-science-and-democracy tag-scientific-integrity tag-scientist-survey tag-trump-administration" id="post-56624">	
			                <div class="the-thumbnail"><img width="79" height="79" src="https://cdn.blog.ucsusa.org/wp-content/uploads/csd-blog-survey-image-2-79x79.jpg" class="attachment-widget size-widget wp-image-56683 wp-post-image" alt="" srcset="https://cdn.blog.ucsusa.org/wp-content/uploads/csd-blog-survey-image-2-79x79.jpg 79w, https://cdn.blog.ucsusa.org/wp-content/uploads/csd-blog-survey-image-2-150x150.jpg 150w" sizes="(max-width: 79px) 100vw, 79px" /></div>
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				                <h3><a href="https://blog.ucsusa.org/jacob-carter/ucs-is-surveying-federal-scientists-working-under-the-trump-administration" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link to UCS is Surveying Federal Scientists Working Under the Trump Administration">UCS is Surveying Federal Scientists Working Under the Trump Administration</a>
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          							<p class="metadata"><a href="/author/jacob-carter">Jacob Carter</a> | February 12, 2018</p>                         
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		        		            		<div class="post-56641 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-energy tag-california tag-clean-energy tag-global-warming-2 tag-natural-gas tag-renewable-energy" id="post-56641">	
			                <div class="the-thumbnail"><img width="79" height="79" src="https://cdn.blog.ucsusa.org/wp-content/uploads/Solar-array-and-wind-farm-J.-Rogers-e1484058221365-1-79x79.jpg" class="attachment-widget size-widget wp-image-55946 wp-post-image" alt="" srcset="https://cdn.blog.ucsusa.org/wp-content/uploads/Solar-array-and-wind-farm-J.-Rogers-e1484058221365-1-79x79.jpg 79w, https://cdn.blog.ucsusa.org/wp-content/uploads/Solar-array-and-wind-farm-J.-Rogers-e1484058221365-1-150x150.jpg 150w" sizes="(max-width: 79px) 100vw, 79px" /></div>
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				                <h3><a href="https://blog.ucsusa.org/laura-wisland/an-unseasonably-hot-february-for-californias-clean-energy-landscape" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link to An Unseasonably &#8220;Hot&#8221; February for California&#8217;s Clean Energy Landscape">An Unseasonably &#8220;Hot&#8221; February for California&#8217;s Clean Energy Landscape</a>
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				                <div class="article-content">                    
          							<p class="metadata"><a href="/author/laura-wisland">Laura Wisland</a> | February 12, 2018</p>                         
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		        		            		<div class="post-56616 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-global-warming tag-climate-change tag-climate-pruitt tag-global-warming-2 tag-scientific-evidence" id="post-56616">	
			                <div class="the-thumbnail"><img width="79" height="79" src="https://cdn.blog.ucsusa.org/wp-content/uploads/1200-pruittevidence-79x79.jpg" class="attachment-widget size-widget wp-image-56621 wp-post-image" alt="" srcset="https://cdn.blog.ucsusa.org/wp-content/uploads/1200-pruittevidence-79x79.jpg 79w, https://cdn.blog.ucsusa.org/wp-content/uploads/1200-pruittevidence-150x150.jpg 150w" sizes="(max-width: 79px) 100vw, 79px" /></div>
							<div class="the-title-date">
				                <h3><a href="https://blog.ucsusa.org/rachel-licker/pruitt-squirming-away-from-the-weight-of-climate-evidence" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link to Pruitt Squirming away from the Weight of Climate Evidence">Pruitt Squirming away from the Weight of Climate Evidence</a>
                				</h3>
				                <div class="article-content">                    
          							<p class="metadata"><a href="/author/rachel-licker">Rachel Licker</a> | February 8, 2018</p>                         
                				</div>
							</div>		
						</div>
		        		            		<div class="post-56576 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-energy tag-clean-energy tag-coal tag-energy-2 tag-equity tag-new-mexico" id="post-56576">	
			                <div class="the-thumbnail"><img width="79" height="79" src="https://cdn.blog.ucsusa.org/wp-content/uploads/pnm-coal1-79x79.jpg" class="attachment-widget size-widget wp-image-56609 wp-post-image" alt="" srcset="https://cdn.blog.ucsusa.org/wp-content/uploads/pnm-coal1-79x79.jpg 79w, https://cdn.blog.ucsusa.org/wp-content/uploads/pnm-coal1-150x150.jpg 150w" sizes="(max-width: 79px) 100vw, 79px" /></div>
							<div class="the-title-date">
				                <h3><a href="https://blog.ucsusa.org/julie-mcnamara/making-the-leap-from-coal-to-what-could-be-new-mexicos-energy-future" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link to Making the Leap from Coal to What Could Be: New Mexico&#8217;s Energy Future">Making the Leap from Coal to What Could Be: New Mexico&#8217;s Energy Future</a>
                				</h3>
				                <div class="article-content">                    
          							<p class="metadata"><a href="/author/julie-mcnamara">Julie McNamara</a> | February 8, 2018</p>                         
                				</div>
							</div>		
						</div>
		        		            		<div class="post-56566 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-vehicles tag-autoshow tag-best tag-electric-vehicle tag-emissions tag-fuel-economy tag-prius tag-top-clean-cars tag-vehicle" id="post-56566">	
			                <div class="the-thumbnail"><img width="79" height="79" src="https://cdn.blog.ucsusa.org/wp-content/uploads/ucsusa_95266364_Full-79x79.jpg" class="attachment-widget size-widget wp-image-53735 wp-post-image" alt="" srcset="https://cdn.blog.ucsusa.org/wp-content/uploads/ucsusa_95266364_Full-79x79.jpg 79w, https://cdn.blog.ucsusa.org/wp-content/uploads/ucsusa_95266364_Full-150x150.jpg 150w" sizes="(max-width: 79px) 100vw, 79px" /></div>
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				                <h3><a href="https://blog.ucsusa.org/josh-goldman/top-clean-cars-and-trucks-of-2018" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link to Top Clean Cars and Trucks of 2018">Top Clean Cars and Trucks of 2018</a>
                				</h3>
				                <div class="article-content">                    
          							<p class="metadata"><a href="/author/josh-goldman">Josh Goldman</a> | February 8, 2018</p>                         
                				</div>
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						</div>
		        		            		<div class="post-56578 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-food-and-agriculture category-science-and-democracy tag-department-of-labor tag-food-service-workers tag-scientific-integrity tag-tip-income tag-trump-administration" id="post-56578">	
			                <div class="the-thumbnail"><img width="79" height="79" src="https://cdn.blog.ucsusa.org/wp-content/uploads/sad-worker-leaning-on-counter-by-tip-jar-79x79.jpg" class="attachment-widget size-widget wp-image-56589 wp-post-image" alt="" srcset="https://cdn.blog.ucsusa.org/wp-content/uploads/sad-worker-leaning-on-counter-by-tip-jar-79x79.jpg 79w, https://cdn.blog.ucsusa.org/wp-content/uploads/sad-worker-leaning-on-counter-by-tip-jar-150x150.jpg 150w" sizes="(max-width: 79px) 100vw, 79px" /></div>
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				                <h3><a href="https://blog.ucsusa.org/andrew-rosenberg/trump-administration-raids-workers-tip-jars-buries-data-showing-thats-a-horrible-idea" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link to Trump Administration Raids Workers’ Tip Jars, Buries Data Showing That’s a Horrible Idea">Trump Administration Raids Workers’ Tip Jars, Buries Data Showing That’s a Horrible Idea</a>
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          							<p class="metadata"><a href="/author/andrew-rosenberg">Andrew Rosenberg</a> | February 7, 2018</p>                         
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		        		            		<div class="post-56532 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-science-and-democracy tag-border-wall tag-endangered-species" id="post-56532">	
			                <div class="the-thumbnail"><img width="79" height="79" src="https://cdn.blog.ucsusa.org/wp-content/uploads/csd-blog-nm-border-79x79.jpg" class="attachment-widget size-widget wp-image-56538 wp-post-image" alt="" srcset="https://cdn.blog.ucsusa.org/wp-content/uploads/csd-blog-nm-border-79x79.jpg 79w, https://cdn.blog.ucsusa.org/wp-content/uploads/csd-blog-nm-border-150x150.jpg 150w" sizes="(max-width: 79px) 100vw, 79px" /></div>
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				                <h3><a href="https://blog.ucsusa.org/charise-johnson/demolishing-public-protections-to-build-trumps-wall" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link to Demolishing Public Protections to Build Trump&#8217;s Wall">Demolishing Public Protections to Build Trump&#8217;s Wall</a>
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          							<p class="metadata"><a href="/author/charise-johnson">Charise Johnson</a> | February 7, 2018</p>                         
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		        		            		<div class="post-56421 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-global-warming tag-climate-preparedness tag-climate-change tag-fpl tag-resilience" id="post-56421">	
			                <div class="the-thumbnail"><img width="79" height="79" src="https://cdn.blog.ucsusa.org/wp-content/uploads/1200-soldierwater-79x79.jpg" class="attachment-widget size-widget wp-image-56511 wp-post-image" alt="" srcset="https://cdn.blog.ucsusa.org/wp-content/uploads/1200-soldierwater-79x79.jpg 79w, https://cdn.blog.ucsusa.org/wp-content/uploads/1200-soldierwater-150x150.jpg 150w" sizes="(max-width: 79px) 100vw, 79px" /></div>
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				                <h3><a href="https://blog.ucsusa.org/julie-mcnamara/how-one-utility-is-using-tax-reform-to-hide-a-billion-dollar-climate-problem" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link to How One Utility Is Using Tax Reform to Hide a Billion-Dollar Climate Problem">How One Utility Is Using Tax Reform to Hide a Billion-Dollar Climate Problem</a>
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          							<p class="metadata"><a href="/author/julie-mcnamara">Julie McNamara</a> | February 6, 2018</p>                         
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		        		            		<div class="post-56520 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-science-and-democracy tag-alex-azar tag-brenda-fitzgerald tag-cdc tag-hhs tag-trump-administration" id="post-56520">	
			                <div class="the-thumbnail"><img width="79" height="79" src="https://cdn.blog.ucsusa.org/wp-content/uploads/alex-azar-wikimedia-79x79.jpg" class="attachment-widget size-widget wp-image-56527 wp-post-image" alt="" srcset="https://cdn.blog.ucsusa.org/wp-content/uploads/alex-azar-wikimedia-79x79.jpg 79w, https://cdn.blog.ucsusa.org/wp-content/uploads/alex-azar-wikimedia-150x150.jpg 150w" sizes="(max-width: 79px) 100vw, 79px" /></div>
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				                <h3><a href="https://blog.ucsusa.org/derrick-jackson/conflicts-of-interest-in-the-trump-administration-the-cases-of-alex-azar-and-brenda-fitzgerald" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link to Conflicts of Interest in the Trump Administration: The Cases of Alex Azar and Brenda Fitzgerald">Conflicts of Interest in the Trump Administration: The Cases of Alex Azar and Brenda Fitzgerald</a>
                				</h3>
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          							<p class="metadata"><a href="/author/derrick-jackson">Derrick Z. Jackson</a> | February 5, 2018</p>                         
                				</div>
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						</div>
		        		            		<div class="post-56508 post type-post status-publish format-standard hentry category-science-and-democracy tag-chemicals tag-epa tag-integrated-risk-information-system tag-iris tag-public-comment tag-scientific-integrity" id="post-56508">	
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				                <h3><a href="https://blog.ucsusa.org/genna-reed/rigor-and-transparency-as-an-antidote-to-politicization-at-epas-integrated-risk-information-system" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link to Rigor and Transparency as an Antidote to Politicization at EPA’s Integrated Risk Information System">Rigor and Transparency as an Antidote to Politicization at EPA’s Integrated Risk Information System</a>
                				</h3>
				                <div class="article-content">                    
          							<p class="metadata"><a href="/author/genna-reed">Genna Reed</a> | February 2, 2018</p>                         
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		        		            		<div class="post-56474 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-energy tag-cooling tag-energy-efficiency tag-energy-savings tag-game-of-thrones tag-heating tag-winter" id="post-56474">	
			                <div class="the-thumbnail"><img width="79" height="79" src="https://cdn.blog.ucsusa.org/wp-content/uploads/1200-starryhome-79x79.jpg" class="attachment-widget size-widget wp-image-56504 wp-post-image" alt="" srcset="https://cdn.blog.ucsusa.org/wp-content/uploads/1200-starryhome-79x79.jpg 79w, https://cdn.blog.ucsusa.org/wp-content/uploads/1200-starryhome-150x150.jpg 150w" sizes="(max-width: 79px) 100vw, 79px" /></div>
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				                <h3><a href="https://blog.ucsusa.org/john-rogers/your-home-vs-winter-let-these-game-of-thrones-quotes-be-your-guide" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link to Your Home vs. Winter: Let these “Game of Thrones” Quotes Be Your Guide">Your Home vs. Winter: Let these “Game of Thrones” Quotes Be Your Guide</a>
                				</h3>
				                <div class="article-content">                    
          							<p class="metadata"><a href="/author/john-rogers">John Rogers</a> | February 2, 2018</p>                         
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    		<div class="post-53408 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-global-warming category-science-and-democracy tag-hurricane-harvey tag-osha tag-trump-administration" id="post-53408">
    			
                
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                    <img src="https://cdn.blog.ucsusa.org/wp-content/uploads/gw-workers-make-repairs-after-hurricane-harvey.jpg" class="single_featured_image">
                    <div class="ccfic"><span class="ccfic-text">Workers make repairs in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. </span> <span class="ccfic-source">Photo: US Coast Guard/Petty Officer 3rd Class Nathan Cox </span></div>                </div>

                                
    			<h1>We Must Protect the Workers Who Will Rebuild after Hurricane Harvey</h1>

                   
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                      <span class="kathleen-rest">
                        <a href="https://blog.ucsusa.org/author/kathleen-rest" title="Posts by Kathleen Rest" rel="author">Kathleen Rest</a><!--
                      -->,</span>
                      executive director                        | September 5, 2017, 4:16 pm EST                    </div>


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                         <p>Storm waters in the greater Houston area are subsiding and the scale of devastation and destruction is staggering. The personal loss, pain, and suffering of families and impacted communities are immeasurable.</p>
<p>As the immediate crisis of saving lives and providing emergency aid and shelter to many thousands winds down, the daunting task of recovery, cleanup, and rebuilding of homes, businesses, and essential infrastructure begins. And, with my 25-plus years of work and experience in occupational health and safety, I am all too aware of the myriad hazards, exposures, and risks workers will be facing in this long-term effort.</p>
<p>Safeguarding workers&#8217; health and safety must not be an afterthought.<span id="more-53408"></span></p>
<h3>The work: dirty, dangerous, and risky</h3>
<p>Post-disaster recovery, cleanup, and reconstruction operations present a panoply of risks and dangers—with workers on the front lines.</p>
<p>Some workers will be tasked with the highly hazardous task of getting the area’s oil refineries and chemical plants back on-line. Start-up operations can result in uncontrolled releases and explosions that place the workers and surrounding communities at grave health and safety risk. The US Chemical Safety Board has issued a <a href="http://www.csb.gov/assets/1/7/CSB_Harvey2017_05.pdf">safety alert</a>, urging caution and providing a checklist for evaluating systems, tanks, instrumentation, and equipment before start-up.</p>
<p>Other workers will be working in and around the 13 highly contaminated Superfund sites that have flooded and sustained storm damage. As of this writing, the <a href="https://response.epa.gov/site/site_profile.aspx?site_id=12353">EPA reports</a> that 11 additional Superfund sites remain inaccessible to response personnel, so the extent of damage is unknown.</p>
<p>And many if not most workers in the greater Houston area will be doing jobs that, at least in the short term, only compound the well-recognized hazards, exposures, and risks they generally encounter.</p>
<p>Hurricanes and super storms like Harvey, Sandy, and Katrina just pile on additional hazards, including mold, mold, and more mold; water contaminated with chemicals and waste; working in and around unstable structures; and carbon monoxide poisoning due to the use of generators in poorly ventilated areas—an all-too-common event in post-disaster work. These are all on top of the falls, cuts, burns, amputations, and machine and musculoskeletal injuries that are all to frequent in today’s workplaces.  And silica, asbestos, and lead just add to the mix of dangers involved in demolition operations that will be ongoing in Houston. (You can also read my prior <a href="http://blog.ucsusa.org/kathleen-rest/worker-memorial-day?_ga=2.33625059.375767012.1504481157-144603443.1477241563">commentary on workplace injury, illness, and fatality tolls.</a>)</p>
<p>The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has established protective health and safety standards for many of these hazards, and they remain applicable even during disasters.  Employers remain responsible for complying with these protections.</p>
<p>In the early days of a disaster, OSHA rightly focuses on compliance assistance (outreach, information, and training for employers and workers). But it should shift to enforcement as the immediate crisis passes. We have seen, for example, the consequences of a lack of enforcement of required respiratory protection after 9/11, leading to the illness and death of workers exposed to toxic dust.  Federal agencies have resources and information about these general hazards, as well as disaster-focused resources and information for employers, workers, and the public (including <a href="https://www.epa.gov/natural-disasters/hurricanes#recover">here</a>, <a href="https://www.epa.gov/natural-disasters/flooding#recover">here</a>, and <a href="https://www.fema.gov/disaster/4332?utm_source=hp_promo&amp;utm_medium=web&amp;utm_campaign=disaster">here</a>).</p>
<p>While helpful, information on a website is not enough; workers, communities, and the impacted public will need resources and action on the ground. And this will surely strain the capacity and resources of agencies that must continue to meet their existing responsibilities at the same time.</p>
<h3>The workers</h3>
<p>As they did in the aftermath of Katrina and Sandy, day laborers will comprise a significant portion of the clean-up and reconstruction efforts in Houston. Homeowners (already stressed by their losses) and contractors alike will be looking for workers to remove debris, pump out water, remove and remediate mold damage, and demolish and renovate structures.</p>
<p>Houston has a large population of day laborers and low-wage workers, many undocumented, many Latino. These workers—who will likely be the mainstay of Houston’s recovery efforts—face a host of additional challenges. Fearing discrimination, family separation, and even deportation, they may be unwilling to ask for protective equipment and training or report unsafe working conditions and wage and hour violations.</p>
<p>Health and safety <a href="https://blogs.cdc.gov/niosh-science-blog/2014/12/04/immigrant-osh/">research and statistics</a> tell us that Latino workers experience higher rates of workplace injury and illness than other segments of the US workforce and significantly higher rates of workplace fatalities. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics 2013 Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, Hispanic or Latino workers were the only racial/ethnic group with an increase in workplace fatalities in 2013. The 797 Hispanic or Latino worker deaths constituted the highest total since 2008 and a seven percent increase over 2012.</p>
<p>Of course, in addition to day laborers, many other workers will be needed for the area’s long-term clean up and recovery efforts. They, too, will face many of the same hazards and exposures as their counterparts who are picking up day jobs on street corners and in worker centers (like <a href="http://houstonworkers.org/">Fey Justicia Worker Center</a> in Houston). All of these workers will be in it for the long haul, and deserve the protection, training, and equipment they need to help their cities and communities recover and rebuild without sacrificing their own health and safety in the process.</p>
<h3>Lessons learned?</h3>
<p>We’ve seen what can happen in the aftermath of a disaster if we take our eye off the ball in protecting our rescue and recovery workers. <a href="http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/bs-ed-katrina-cleanup-20150829-story.html">Katrina</a>, <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/thepumphandle/2017/08/31/sandy-to-harvey-will-lessons-from-day-laborers-be-learned-or-forgotten/">Sandy</a>, <a href="http://www.ehstoday.com/fire_emergencyresponse/ehs_imp_38472">9/11</a>—all have lessons to teach. Most are applicable to what’s facing workers who are on-the-ground now responding to Harvey and who will be there for years to come.</p>
<p>Avoiding the additional tragedy of workplace deaths, injuries, and illnesses in the recovery and reconstruction process will require the sustained attention of state, local, and federal agencies, employers and contractors, informed workers, and a vigilant public. This is made all the more difficult by the Trump administration’s all-out assault on workplace protections and his blatant ignorance and disregard for the value immigrants bring to our nation’s labor force.</p>
<p>Now is the time to ensure that our existing worker safety and health protections are strong and are vigorously enforced; it is not the time to roll back or weaken these worker protections—or environmental protections for communities.</p>
<p>Now is the time to ensure that our worker health and safety agencies have the staffing and budgets they need to fulfill their statutory mandates to protect the nation’s workforce. It is not the time to cut <a href="http://blog.ucsusa.org/kathleen-rest/president-trumps-budget-leaves-workers-behind">budgets</a> for agencies already stretched to the limit in trying to do so.</p>
<p>Now is the time to honor, value, and protect those workers who rush into harm’s way in the face of disasters and those who stay with it to repair, rebuild, and revitalize the communities they hit. It is certainly not the time to turn the lives of immigrant and undocumented workers upside down.</p>
<p>Your voice matters. Let your elected leaders know that you expect them to support strong worker safety and health protections—and that you will hold them accountable if they don’t. Now is the perfect time. Here are some <a href="http://www.ucsusa.org/action/activist-resource-center.html#.Wa7VGsYpCJA">tips and resources</a> that may be helpful.</p>

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                         <p>Posted in: <a href="https://blog.ucsusa.org/category/global-warming" rel="category tag">Global Warming</a>, <a href="https://blog.ucsusa.org/category/science-and-democracy" rel="category tag">Science and Democracy</a> 
						 Tags: <a href="https://blog.ucsusa.org/tag/hurricane-harvey" rel="tag">hurricane harvey</a>, <a href="https://blog.ucsusa.org/tag/osha" rel="tag">OSHA</a>, <a href="https://blog.ucsusa.org/tag/trump-administration" rel="tag">Trump Administration</a><br>  </p>

                         
                    
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                    <li class="comment even thread-even depth-1" id="dsq-comment-55246">
        <div id="dsq-comment-header-55246" class="dsq-comment-header">
            <cite id="dsq-cite-55246">
                <span id="dsq-author-user-55246">Jim</span>
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        <div id="dsq-comment-body-55246" class="dsq-comment-body">
            <div id="dsq-comment-message-55246" class="dsq-comment-message"><p>The workers who cleaned up after Hurricane Katria were defrauded in innunerable ways, many of them fully aided and abetted by both local and federal government.</p>
<p>Workers were not paid overtime rate for working months of 100+ hour weeks.   They were also paid months late, only finding out after months that they&#8217;d been earning far less than they&#8217;d been promised.   The federal government passed special measures that removed the requirements to pay overtime rates for overtime hours,    </p>
<p>There was no oversight nor vetting at all of contractors, many of whom had histories of fraud/bankrupty and felonys.   Many took full advantage of the chaotic conditions to house their workers in double bunks linking both sides of unairconditioned shipping containers and truck trailers and the only places to get food were fast food joints taking advantage of the shortages to charge exorbitant rates.   Many just did not pay their workers at all, claiming it was being delayed by &#8220;government paperwork&#8221; and then just disappeared when the work neared completion.   And the consistent attitude of those in government who should have been doing something about it all was &#8220;given the situation, what can you do?&#8221;</p>
<p>In addition safety measures, never much of a concern in the USA, particularly with workers from out of the area they were working were generally ignored.   Safety equipment was hardly ever available, with the usual excuse that they &#8220;couldn&#8217;t get it under the circumstances&#8221;.     And workers were never informed when they were working around serious chemical and other hazards.</p>
<p>I desperately needed money and scouts were telling people on local worksites (thousands of miles from New Orleans) about how much money they could supposedly make.   But I&#8217;d talked to many people over the years who&#8217;d been in similar situations and it was always the same:  once you got to the worksites, workers from out of the area and , most especially from out of the country were little better off than slave labor:  they say they&#8217;d have to photograph your passports for records and you&#8217;d never get them back.  They&#8217;d pay late and later always accumulating a mountain of back pay,   They&#8217;d pay less than promised and not pay overtime rates.   The housing would be severely overcrowded, unsanitary, dangerous and not climate controlled.       </p>
<p>The smartest thing I ever did was to stay on my 40 hours/week job and NOT go work at Katrina cleanup.  When my coworkers who&#8217;d been there dragged back I hear the horror tales &#8211; very typical of the abuse in such circumstances in Saudi Arabia, Japan and just about any country that gets an influx of foreign blue collar workers, especially in construction.</p>
<p>If I was still young enough, I would not go work on cleanup for Harvey or Irma if you  held a gun to my head.     I have the utmost sympathy for people in the area but slave labor just isn&#8217;t my thing.</p>
<p>Given the long term trend in every increasing abuse and exploitation of labor it will almost certainly be even worse this time.<br />
&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;<br />
Some advice for those contemplating it:</p>
<p>Work only for reputable long established companies.   Working for small contractors, especially new ones, is a guaranteed disaster.       Get your pay rate AND overtime rate in a signed contract BEFORE you travel to the area.   NEVER let anyone retain your ID papers.  Don&#8217;t even let them take them into the next room to &#8220;photocopy them&#8221;.    Make sure you have private health insurance and that it has good coverage,   In the USA workmen&#8217;s comp is designed to protect the employer, not the worker.    If you do get and  injury demand to get medical attention immediately.  Any delay may be used as an excuse to later contest a workman&#8217;s comp claim by claiming it didn&#8217;t happen on the job.           </p>
<p>Don&#8217;t expect to make much money.  You will be lucky to take home, even after working 100 hour weeks, as much as you&#8217;d have made at home working 40 hours after food, rent taxes, etc.   SEE IT FOR WHAT IT REALLY IS:   Basically you&#8217;ll be doing grueling volunteer work (but treated like a peon instead of like a volunteer) and if you get a bit of money out of it consider it a bonus.</p>
<p>DO NOT LEAVE A STEADY FULL TIME JOB to do it, period.    Do it only if you are really really _really_ hard up for money.</p>
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