R 375
2022 -- S 3023
Enacted 06/16/2022

S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N
CELEBRATING JUNE 16, 2022, AS "ESSENTIAL WORKER APPRECIATION DAY" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

Introduced By: Senators E Morgan, Paolino, de la Cruz, Rogers, Algiere, Burke, Felag, F Lombardi, Ciccone, and Coyne

Date Introduced: June 16, 2022

     WHEREAS, Essential Worker Appreciation Day provides the opportunity 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
     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, 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 had dramatically changed.
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 our State's residents; and
     WHEREAS, These dedicated men and women are and have been unsung heroes and
particularly throughout the months of the pandemic when they consistently demonstrated deep
commitment to ensuring the well-being and subsistence of the residents of their communities and
kept our State's economy running; and
     WHEREAS, Pushing through 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, Essential workers are one of the State's greatest assets and today more than
ever, professional recognition and employee appreciation are essential for morale, engagement,
and retention; now, therefore be it
     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island hereby celebrates "Essential
Workers Appreciation Day" on June 16, 2022, and thanks Rhode Island's essential workers for
their dedicated efforts and continued work for the betterment of our communities. It is also a day
to pay tribute to those workers who lost their lives helping others during this pandemic; 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 the Rhode Island Department of Health, John E.
Gage, MBA, NHA, 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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LC006105
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