By Allan Wall
05/20/2012
Several months ago I had a VDARE.COM article entitled Department of Labor’s Hilda Solis to American Farmers — Replace your Nephew with an Illegal Alien! It’s about the meddlesome system of changes in regulation designed to make it harder for young people to work on family farms. These rules would not have been voted on in Congress, but unilaterally handed down by the same Department of Labor, run by Hilda Solis, that encourages illegal alien labor.
Well, after plenty of protest by informed farm folk who made their voices heard, the Department of Labor has withdrawn the proposed rule changes. This is an example of how citizens can make a difference. Apparently, the people who run the Department of Labor thought they could ram this rule change through without much publicity. But there was plenty of public objection in Farm Country, and this time it was heard. Congratulations to all those who spread the news and made their voices heard.
Here is the DOL statement on the matter.
"The Obama administration is firmly committed to promoting family farmers and respecting the rural way of life, especially the role that parents and other family members play in passing those traditions down through the generations. The Obama administration is also deeply committed to listening and responding to what Americans across the country have to say about proposed rules and regulations.
"As a result, the Department of Labor is announcing today the withdrawal of the proposed rule dealing with children under the age of 16 who work in agricultural vocations.
"The decision to withdraw this rule — including provisions to define the 'parental exemption' — was made in response to thousands of comments expressing concerns about the effect of the proposed rules on small family-owned farms. To be clear, this regulation will not be pursued for the duration of the Obama administration.
"Instead, the Departments of Labor and Agriculture will work with rural stakeholders — such as the American Farm Bureau Federation, the National Farmers Union, the Future Farmers of America, and 4-H — to develop an educational program to reduce accidents to young workers and promote safer agricultural working practices."
Labor Department Statement on Withdrawal of Proposed Rule Dealing with Children Who Work in Agricultural Vocations Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division, April 26th, 2012
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