2022 -- H 7226

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LC004274

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

THANKING FEMA AND THE NATIONAL DISASTER MEDICAL SYSTEM TEAM

DOCTORS, NURSES, AND STAFF FOR PROVIDING CRITICAL HELP TO RHODE

ISLANDS HOSPITALS AND CITIZENS

     Introduced By: Representatives Fenton-Fung, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Newberry,
Filippi, Chippendale, Ajello, and Shallcross Smith

     Date Introduced: January 27, 2022

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, Rhode Island's hospitals have been struggling with staffing shortages and

the highest hospitalization numbers since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, and

although the state government's COVID response team has been working tirelessly to pursue any

and every available resource to support the hospital's staffing needs, the situation was critical; and

     WHEREAS, President Joe Biden, in response to numerous states' urgent conditions, has

deployed teams of military doctors, nurses and other medical professionals; and

     WHEREAS, Through the National Disaster Medical System, a 14-member team

consisting of nurses, medics, and support staff arrived to provide critical assistance in support of

Kent Hospital’s emergency department and medical/surgical unit for two weeks, and a 23-person

medical team, deployed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will be

assisting Rhode Island Hospital for 30 days; and

     WHEREAS, The FEMA team consists of an internal medicine doctor, a

pulmonologist/intensive care doctor, a physician’s assistant, an emergency physician, two

emergency room nurses, eleven critical care nurses, a medical/surgical nurse, two respiratory

technicians and a three-person “command and control” team who will be primarily assisting staff

in the Respiratory Intermediate Care Unit

     WHEREAS, All healthcare workers who are making enormous sacrifices in order to

support and save countless patients' lives on the frontlines of battling the novel coronavirus are

our heroes and eminently worthy of praise and gratitude; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby

thanks FEMA and the National Disaster Medical System team doctors, nurses, and staff for

providing critical help to Rhode Island's hospitals and citizens; 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 President Joseph R. Biden, Deanne Criswell,

Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and Dawn O'Connell,

Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response.

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LC004274

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