14-R294

2014 – S 2425 SUBSTITUTE A

Enacted 05/27/14

J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL JOINT COMMISSION TO STUDY THE FEASIBILITY OF ESTABLISHING A DESERT STORM AND DESERT SHIELD MEMORIAL AT THE RHODE ISLAND VETERANS' CEMETERY

Introduced By: Senators Felag, Pichardo, Lombardi, McCaffrey, and Walaska

Date Introduced: February 27, 2014

 

WHEREAS, Rhode Islanders have served honorably in the Armed Forces since the Revolutionary War; and

WHEREAS, Many Rhode Islanders served our country in Operation Desert Storm and Operation Desert Shield; and

WHEREAS, There is no memorial in our state honoring the service of Rhode Islanders who were deployed in support of the First Gulf War; and

WHEREAS, Fitting monuments and memorials have been established at the Rhode Island Veterans' Memorial Cemetery for veterans who have served in past wars and military actions; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, That a special legislative commission be and the same is hereby created consisting of nine (9) members: three (3) of whom shall be members of the Senate, not more than two (2) from the same political party, to be appointed by the President of the Senate; three (3) of whom shall be members of the House of Representatives, not more than two (2) from the same political party, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; one of whom shall be the Associate Director of the Division of Veterans' Affairs, Department of Human Services, or designee, who shall act as chair of the commission; one of whom shall be a veteran of the First Gulf War appointed by the Speaker of the House; and one of whom shall be a faculty member of an Arts Department in one of the state colleges, to be appointed by the President of the Senate.

In lieu of any appointment of a member of the legislature to a permanent advisory commission, a legislative study commission, or any commission created by a General Assembly resolution, the appointing authority may appoint a member of the general public to serve in lieu of a legislator, provided that the majority leader or the minority leader of the political party which is entitled to the appointment consents to the appointment of the member of the general public.

The purpose of said commission shall be to study the feasibility of establishing a Desert Storm and Desert Shield Memorial at the RI Veterans' Cemetery, how a design for such a memorial would be sought and selected, and how the costs of the memorial would be funded.

Forthwith upon passage of this resolution, the members of the commission shall meet at the call of the Chair and organize. 

Vacancies in said commission shall be filled in like manner as the original appointment.

The membership of said commission shall receive no compensation for their services.

All departments and agencies of the state shall furnish such advice and information, documentary and otherwise, to said commission and its agents as is deemed necessary or desirable by the commission to facilitate the purposes of this resolution.

The Joint Committee on Legislative Services is hereby authorized and directed to provide Suitable quarters for said commission; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the commission shall report its findings and results to the General Assembly on or before March 4, 2015, and said commission shall expire on July 1, 2015. 

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LC004220/SUB A
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