2018 -- H 8361

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LC005866

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2018

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

HONORING REPRESENTATIVE JEREMIAH T. O'GRADY FOR HIS SERVICE TO THE

PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

     Introduced By: Representatives Mattiello, Shekarchi, Amore, Tanzi, and Carson

     Date Introduced: June 23, 2018

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, More than seven years ago, the citizens of the Ocean State became the

beneficiaries of the abiding dedication to public service that Representative Jeremiah T. O'Grady

has brought to the State House each and every day as a valued member of the Rhode Island

House of Representatives; and

     WHEREAS, Jeremiah O'Grady graduated from the University of Vermont and attained a

Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Rhode Island. He is the husband

of Elizabeth and the father of Anna and Declan, and is a volunteer coach for the North Stars

Special Olympics team; and

     WHEREAS, On November 2nd of 2010, the Honorable Jeremiah O'Grady successfully

ran for House District 46, which represents portions of the Town of Lincoln and the City of

Pawtucket. He had previously been elected to the Lincoln Town Council for four years, where he

served as President of the Council for two years. In addition, he was a member of the Lincoln

Budget Board, and served as Lincoln Town Moderator; and

     WHEREAS, Well-respected by his peers, Representative O'Grady has served as a Deputy

Majority Leader, second vice-chairman of the House Committee on Environment and Natural

Resources, and is a member of both the House Committee on Corporations and the House

Committee on Judiciary; and

     WHEREAS, During his tenure with the House, Representative O'Grady has championed

myriad bills including legislation that paves the way for nonprofit organizations to purchase

foreclosed homes in the state and sell them back to the foreclosed-upon homeowners with more

affordable mortgages. He also led the Special Legislative Commission to Study and Assess

Rhode Island's "Fair Funding Formula," which eventually resulted in a new state school funding

formula. In addition, he sponsored legislation to restore nearly $10 million in previous cuts to the

developmentally disabled community and was the sponsor of the Student Journalists' Freedom of

Expression Act; and

     WHEREAS, In addition to long hours at the State House, Representative O'Grady is

employed as a program officer at Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), and was formerly

a Real Estate Project Manager for the Olneyville Housing Corporation, and a past director of

Benchmark Human Resources; and

     WHEREAS, A truly valued member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives, the

Honorable Jeremiah O'Grady has consistently demonstrated an abiding dedication to serving the

best interests of his constituency while helping to lead the Ocean State toward a future of ever-

expanding opportunities; now, therefore be it

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

Providence Plantations hereby honors Representative Jeremiah T. O'Grady for his dedicated

service to the people of Lincoln, Pawtucket, and the State; and be it further

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

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the Honorable Jeremiah T. O'Grady.

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LC005866

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