2026 -- H 8454

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

CELEBRATING THE 56TH ANNIVERSARY OF "EARTH DAY" ON APRIL 22, 2026, IN

THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

     Introduced By: Representatives McGaw, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Chippendale,
DeSimone, Carson, Speakman, Donovan, Potter, and Boylan

     Date Introduced: April 16, 2026

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, First held on April 22, 1970, Earth Day was created by Senator Gaylord

Nelson to bring national attention and support for environmental protection; and

     WHEREAS, The very first Earth Day brought twenty million Americans from myriad

United States cities out to demonstrate. In 2026, one billion people in more than 192 countries are

expected to be involved in a wide range of activities coordinated globally; and

     WHEREAS, This year marks the 56th Anniversary of Earth Day and it continues last

year’s theme of “Our Power, Our Plant” focusing on the role of people and communities around

the world in sustaining environmental protections that affect the cost of living, public health,

infrastructure, and long-term stability. Conditions of the environment have influence on the

availability of food and water, access to energy, natural disaster risks, and economic resilience;

and

     WHEREAS, Earth Day has already had a significant and positive impact on our World

with tens of millions of trees planted, educators teaching about environmental issues in 149

countries, billions in Green School Grants, 2.7 billion Acts of Green, and millions of cleanup

volunteers; and

     WHEREAS, Earth Day commands a collective voice from our world to encourage

governments, businesses and individuals "to acknowledge and rectify their roles in the

environmental crisis"; and

     WHEREAS, Earth Day is an opportunity for "individuals from all backgrounds and

walks of life to unite in a global effort to advance sustainability and climate action"; now,

therefore be it

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

celebrates the 56th Anniversary of Earth Day on April 22, 2026, and calls upon all Rhode

Islanders to educate themselves on the environmental hazards facing the Earth and our future, and

become part of the solution; 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 Lou Vergato, Executive Director, the Rhode

Island Resource Recovery Corporation, and Terrence Gray, Director, Rhode Island Department of

Environmental Management.

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