U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s forced labor team was awarded the 2021 Service to America Medal for Safety, Security and International Affairs by the Partnership for Public Service.
Nicknamed the “Sammies,” the award is meant to honor the achievements of the nation’s public servants who inspire excellence and innovation throughout the federal workforce. The CBP earned the award for investigating goods suspected of being made with forced labor and preventing them from entering the United States.
“I want to offer my sincere congratulations to the CBP forced labor team on earning this prestigious award,” acting CBP Commissioner Troy Miller said in a press release. “The forced labor team works to ensure that these goods never enter the U.S. commerce, and their efforts have led to tangible progress in the global fight against modern slavery. There is no place for goods produced with forced labor on American store shelves or in our homes.”
The Sammies are named after Samuel J. Heyman, who founded the partnership in 2002. Since then more than 500 federal employees have been recognized for their efforts.
This is the second time in three months CBP’s forced labor team has been recognized with a Sammie Award by the Partnership for Public Service. The CBP earned the People’s Choice Award in August.
“Our forced labor team has made exceptional strides in their work to eliminate forced labor from U.S. supply chains, and I am thrilled that they are being recognized with this well-deserved award," said AnnMarie Highsmith, executive assistant commissioner in the Office of Trade, in the release. "Their outstanding work benefits people all over the world in helping to prevent egregious human rights violations, and also safeguards our economy here at home.”
In 2021, CBP detained an estimated $486 million in goods suspected to be made by forced labor.
