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PRINTER'S NO. 3757
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
873
Session of
2020
INTRODUCED BY HANBIDGE, KOSIEROWSKI, GALLOWAY, HILL-EVANS,
ULLMAN, DRISCOLL, ROZZI, SANCHEZ, MILLARD, YOUNGBLOOD,
McCLINTON, BOBACK, KINSEY, READSHAW, FREEMAN, McCARTER,
RAVENSTAHL, ISAACSON, SAPPEY, FIEDLER, THOMAS, MERSKI,
DELLOSO, SAINATO, ZABEL, HOWARD, SCHLEGEL CULVER, GAINEY,
HOHENSTEIN, NEILSON, DONATUCCI, CIRESI, MALAGARI, SCHWEYER,
POLINCHOCK, PASHINSKI, KORTZ, FRANKEL, SHUSTERMAN, TOMLINSON,
McNEILL, LONGIETTI, A. DAVIS, BROWN, O'MARA AND STAATS,
MAY 13, 2020
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON LABOR AND INDUSTRY, MAY 13, 2020
A RESOLUTION
Designating the year 2020 as "Frontline Workers Appreciation
Year" in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, The emergence of human-to-human transmission of the
coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, in late 2019 marked the
beginning of an ongoing pandemic that poses a serious threat to
the health and survival of communities all over the world,
including here in this Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, In order to mitigate the spread of COVID-19,
Governor Wolf signed a declaration of emergency disaster on
March 6, 2020, and ordered the closure of all non-life-
sustaining businesses in Pennsylvania on March 19, 2020; and
WHEREAS, To protect critical infrastructure during a time of
crisis, essential services are being maintained and operated by
frontline workers so all Pennsylvanians have access to goods and
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services that are imperative for basic survival; and
WHEREAS, Frontline workers in the areas of health care,
grocery and food services, emergency medical services and public
safety, funeral services and delivery and transportation
services are taking necessary risks and committing themselves to
provide essential services during a pandemic so that their
actions may prevent unnecessary deaths; and
WHEREAS, Doctors, nurses and other health care workers
continue to treat patients who have contracted COVID-19, or
other medical conditions, all while at high-risk for exposure
and through diminishing and insufficient medical supplies and
resources so that sick individuals can receive life-saving care;
and
WHEREAS, Grocery and food supply workers, including
invaluable farm workers, continue to maintain the food supply
chain despite low wages and going without proper access to
protective gear so that Pennsylvanians can procure the necessary
supplies to practice social distancing and quarantine in the
safety of their own homes; and
WHEREAS, Emergency medical services providers and first
responders are often the initial point-of-contact with sick and
dying patients, enduring long shifts and acute stress on a daily
basis, to ensure that calls for help do not go unanswered; and
WHEREAS, Funeral service providers offer a vital and often
overlooked service that is an essential part of public health,
especially during a pandemic or any mass-fatality disaster,
practicing infection control to care for the remains of
individuals who died of confirmed or suspected COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, Postal and delivery workers ensure that individuals
and families practicing social distancing are able to receive
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essential life-preserving items such as food and medicine, as
well as helping businesses stay financially solvent; and
WHEREAS, Transportation workers have sustained public transit
for essential workers and individuals in need of essential goods
and services who do not otherwise have access to personal
transport, all amid a lack of basic protections; and
WHEREAS, In addition to the professions mentioned, there are
a multitude of frontline workers who continue to make sacrifices
and who are critical to this Commonwealth's ability to persevere
through this watershed moment in history, who have only recently
begun to gain full appreciation but who have always deserved
recognition and gratitude; and
WHEREAS, During this public health crisis, when the gravity
of their presence as frontline workers has never been more
evident, it is only right to advocate for their needs and safety
by ensuring that they are provided proper protective equipment,
hazard pay and fair labor practices; and
WHEREAS, Acknowledging that recognition and appreciation of
frontline workers' contributions to this Commonwealth is only
the first step in thanking our frontline workers for their
sacrifices; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the
year 2020 as "Frontline Workers Appreciation Year" in
Pennsylvania.
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