13-R156

2013 -- S 0500

Enacted 03/20/13

S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N

RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO STUDY

ESTABLISHING A REGISTRY AND IDENTIFICATION PROGRAM TO EXPAND CONSUMER AWARENESS AND SUPPORT FOR RHODE ISLAND'S VETERAN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESSES

Introduced By: Senators Cote, Bates, Pichardo, Ottiano, and Jabour

Date Introduced: February 28, 2013

     WHEREAS, Since 2001, over two million American military personnel have been

deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan; and

     WHEREAS, Rhode Island, along with the rest of the country, is witnessing the return of

our mothers and fathers, husbands and wives, and sons and daughters from the field of battle; and

     WHEREAS, Rhode Island, despite its small size, has borne a significant share of the

sacrifice from these recent conflicts; and

     WHEREAS, The call back to active duty status rate for our state’s National Guard is the

second highest in the entire United States, with over 10,000 unit deployments; and

     WHEREAS, The number of veterans living in Rhode Island who served in the Gulf Wars

is three times higher than the national per capita average, and is expected to grow as troops begin

to withdraw from Afghanistan; and

     WHEREAS, The fundamental freedoms enjoyed by all citizens of our state and these

United States are insured in no small part through the honorable service of our nations military

veterans; and

     WHEREAS, The people of our state have a deep debt of gratitude for the sacrifices made

by these men and women, who as combat veterans placed their lives in harm’s way to protect and

defend our nation from all foreign enemies and terrorist threats; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

hereby finds and declares, in order to ensure that these veterans can ultimately obtain rewarding

full-time civilian employment working either for themselves or other firms, that all state officers

and departments strive to deliver assistance and services in innovative ways that not only meet,

but exceed, the expectations of our veterans and their families; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That this Senate hereby respectfully requests that the Honorable Secretary

of State study establishing a registry of veteran-owned businesses within the Secretary of State’s

Office and the creation of a state-issued “decal” to identify veteran-owned businesses to the

public so as to further educate and encourage consumers to support Rhode Island’s veteran-

owned small businesses; 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 A. Ralph Mollis.

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LC01878

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