2022 -- H 8344

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LC006136

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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

HONORING LINDA KATZ, J.D., CO-FOUNDER AND POLICY DIRECTOR OF THE

ECONOMIC PROGRESS INSTITUTE, ON THE OCCASION OF HER RETIREMENT

AFTER FORTY-FIVE YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE TO SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC

JUSTICE

     Introduced By: Representatives Handy, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Ajello, Kislak, Filippi,
Tanzi, Slater, Diaz, and McNamara

     Date Introduced: June 15, 2022

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, For the past forty-five years, Linda Katz has lent her time, talents, and

tremendous work ethic to finding and creating policies, training, and programs for affordable

housing, proper health care, and necessary legal aid for disadvantaged families, seniors, and

disabled adults in Rhode Island; and

     WHEREAS, Upon earning her Juris Doctor, Ms. Katz began her career in 1978 as a

Community Education Specialist and Staff Attorney for Rhode Island Legal Services, helping

low-income individuals on a panoply of issues and developing training and a series of guides

relating to various programs to assist low-income individuals; and

     WHEREAS, From 1988 through 1992, Ms. Katz served as Executive Director of the

Rhode Island Disability Center and in 1992, she returned to Rhode Island Legal Services as a

staff attorney. In 1995, she continued her efforts on behalf of Rhode Island's most vulnerable as

Health Policy Director for the Rhode Island Health Center Association, where she analyzed

federal and state laws affecting health centers and their patients in order to create and improve

policies governing patient care access to health centers and health insurance; and

     WHEREAS, In 2001, Ms. Katz co-founded the Economic Progress Institute where she

has served as Policy Director for more than two decades. Under her direction, the Institute has

assisted in establishing statutory and regulatory provisions to help low- and moderate-income

Rhode Islanders with cash and food assistance, health care and child care. In addition, the

Institute provides input and insights to Department of Human Services on the RIte Care health

insurance program, and offers training to State agency staff members and the community on

various available benefit options; and

     WHEREAS, Throughout the course of her career, Ms. Katz has been honored with

myriad awards and accolades for her dedication and ability to find consensus, provide actionable

policies, and produce positive outcomes. She received the 2012 President’s Award for

Excellence, the 2009 Profile in Change Award, the 2009 Healthcare Policy Heroes Award, the

2005 Nancy H. Gewirtz Social Action Award, and was named the 2004 Raymond J. Pettine Civil

Libertarian of the Year, to name but a few of her many recognitions; and

     WHEREAS, Linda Katz's commitment to low-income and disadvantaged Rhode

Islanders is renowned, unwavering, and heartfelt, and her efforts have surely distinguished her as

a person worthy of our utmost admiration and gratitude; now, therefore be it

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

honors Linda Katz for more than forty-five years of conscientious and passionate service to social

and economic justice for Rhode Islanders. We furthermore wish her continued health, happiness,

and well deserved time for life's pleasures as she begins a new chapter in her life; and be it further

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

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Linda Katz, J.D.

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LC006136

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