2022 -- S 3023

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LC006105

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

CELEBRATING JUNE 16, 2022, AS "ESSENTIAL WORKER APPRECIATION DAY" IN

THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

     Introduced By: Senators E Morgan, Paolino, de la Cruz, Rogers, Algiere, Burke, Felag,
F Lombardi, Ciccone, and Coyne

     Date Introduced: June 16, 2022

     Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration

     WHEREAS, Essential Worker Appreciation Day provides the opportunity 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

     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, 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 had dramatically changed.

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 our State's residents; and

     WHEREAS, These dedicated men and women are and have been unsung heroes and

particularly throughout the months of the pandemic when they consistently demonstrated deep

commitment to ensuring the well-being and subsistence of the residents of their communities and

kept our State's economy running; and

     WHEREAS, Pushing through 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, Essential workers are one of the State's greatest assets and today more than

ever, professional recognition and employee appreciation are essential for morale, engagement,

and retention; now, therefore be it

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

Workers Appreciation Day" on June 16, 2022, and thanks Rhode Island's essential workers for

their dedicated efforts and continued work for the betterment of our communities. It is also a day

to pay tribute to those workers who lost their lives helping others during this pandemic; 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 the Rhode Island Department of Health, John E.

Gage, MBA, NHA, 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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LC006105

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