R 312
2021 -- S 0952
Enacted 06/15/2021

S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N
CELEBRATING JUNE 17, 2021, AS "ESSENTIAL WORKER APPRECIATION DAY" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

Introduced By: Senators E Morgan, Paolino, de la Cruz, Algiere, Rogers, McCaffrey,
Date Introduced: June 15, 2021

     WHEREAS, In March of 2020, the first presumptive positive case of COVID-19 was
confirmed in the State and within days, the lives of all Rhode Islanders dramatically changed; and
     WHEREAS, Over the next fourteen months throughout the COVID-19 pandemic,
essential workers continued to work on the frontlines of myriad services in order to protect the
health, well-being, and safety of Rhode Island residents; and
     WHEREAS, Essential workers include healthcare workers, direct care workers, nursing
home workers, local public health workers, educators and school staff, food service and grocery
store workers, gas station attendants, construction workers, utility workers, post office workers,
social service workers, delivery service workers, law enforcement officers, security officers,
corrections officers, manufacturers who converted their operations to making respirators, face
shields, and hand sanitizers, and janitors, transit workers, truck drivers, emergency service
workers, and other public servants; and
     WHEREAS, Pushing through their exhaustion and fear, and oftentimes struggling with
long hours and fatigue, these essential workers selflessly put their lives at risk to continue to
fulfill their critical jobs so many of us could stay safely at home while still continuing to have
access to basic life necessities; and
     WHEREAS, These dedicated men and women are the unsung heroes of the pandemic
who have shown deep commitment to ensuring the well-being and subsistence of the residents of
their communities and have kept our State's economy running; and
     WHEREAS, Essential Worker Appreciation Day is a day to recognize and honor each
and every one of the essential workers across our State who have made so many sacrifices in
order to provide critical services to the people of Rhode Island, and to remember and pay tribute
to those workers who lost their lives helping others during this pandemic; now, therefore be it
     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island hereby celebrates "Essential
Workers Appreciation Day" on June 17, 2021, and thanks Rhode Island's essential workers for
their dedicated efforts and continued work for the betterment of our communities; 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 Dr. Nicole Alexander-Scott, Director of the
Rhode Island Department of Health, Scott Fraser, President/CEO of the Rhode Island Health Care
Association, the Rhode Island Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education, the
Executive Director of the Rhode Island Manufacturers Association, and the Administrator of the
Rhode Island District Office of the U.S. Small Business Administration.
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LC003031
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