2021 -- S 0952

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LC003031

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2021

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

CELEBRATING JUNE 17, 2021, AS "ESSENTIAL WORKER APPRECIATION DAY" IN

THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

     Introduced By: Senators E Morgan, Paolino, de la Cruz, Algiere, Rogers, McCaffrey,
and Ciccone

     Date Introduced: June 15, 2021

     Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration

     WHEREAS, In March of 2020, the first presumptive positive case of COVID-19 was

confirmed in the State and within days, the lives of all Rhode Islanders dramatically changed; and

     WHEREAS, Over the next fourteen months throughout the COVID-19 pandemic,

essential workers continued to work on the frontlines of myriad services in order to protect the

health, well-being, and safety of Rhode Island residents; and

     WHEREAS, Essential workers include healthcare workers, direct care workers, nursing

home workers, local public health workers, educators and school staff, food service and grocery

store workers, gas station attendants, construction workers, utility workers, post office workers,

social service workers, delivery service workers, law enforcement officers, security officers,

corrections officers, manufacturers who converted their operations to making respirators, face

shields, and hand sanitizers, and janitors, transit workers, truck drivers, emergency service

workers, and other public servants; and

     WHEREAS, Pushing through their exhaustion and fear, and oftentimes struggling with

long hours and fatigue, these essential workers selflessly put their lives at risk to continue to

fulfill their critical jobs so many of us could stay safely at home while still continuing to have

access to basic life necessities; and

     WHEREAS, These dedicated men and women are the unsung heroes of the pandemic

who have shown deep commitment to ensuring the well-being and subsistence of the residents of

their communities and have kept our State's economy running; and

     WHEREAS, Essential Worker Appreciation Day is a day to recognize and honor each

and every one of the essential workers across our State who have made so many sacrifices in

order to provide critical services to the people of Rhode Island, and to remember and pay tribute

to those workers who lost their lives helping others during this pandemic; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island hereby celebrates "Essential

Workers Appreciation Day" on June 17, 2021, and thanks Rhode Island's essential workers for

their dedicated efforts and continued work for the betterment of our communities; and be it

further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to Dr. Nicole Alexander-Scott, Director of the

Rhode Island Department of Health, Scott Fraser, President/CEO of the Rhode Island Health Care

Association, the Rhode Island Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education, the

Executive Director of the Rhode Island Manufacturers Association, and the Administrator of the

Rhode Island District Office of the U.S. Small Business Administration.

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LC003031

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