HENRICO, V.A. – U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger co-led an effort by nine Members of the U.S. House freshman class with national security backgrounds to introduce a resolution honoring the service and sacrifice of frontline workers responding to the COVID-19 crisis.

The freshman members –– all of whom served in the military or in the nation’s defense and intelligence agencies –– introduced this resolution to recognize the significance of frontline workers’ service, as they put themselves in harm’s way to perform the variety of essential tasks to keep Americans healthy, safe, and connected during this pandemic.

“Whether in a hospital, distribution center, or grocery store, Central Virginia’s frontline workers are putting their personal health on the line every day to keep our communities strong and safe,” said Spanberger. “This resolution honors their selflessness, grit, and devotion to their fellow Americans. I’m proud to stand alongside my colleagues as we recognize those who’ve responded to this moment of national crisis with a movement of national courage.”

Specifically, the resolution honors doctors, nurses, nursing home workers, home care and domestic workers, and other medical professionals; firefighters, EMTs, paramedics, emergency dispatchers, Customs and Border Protection Officers, border patrol agents, security guards, corrections officers, and law enforcement officers; farmers, farm workers, fast food workers, restaurant workers, food processing workers, and grocery store employees; communication workers; truck drivers, commercial pilots, and food and supply distribution center workers; United States Postal Service employees and other carriers; sanitation, custodial, janitorial, and cleaning service workers; construction workers, electrical workers, steelworkers, carpenters, millwrights, utility workers, machinists, ironworkers, and other laborers; local, state, and federal employees; childcare workers; Transportation Security Administration officers, pilots, air traffic control officers, flight attendants, railroad workers, and transit workers; and other frontline workers who have continued to perform critical and essential missions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Spanberger introduced the resolution alongside U.S. Representatives Elissa Slotkin (D-MI-08), Jason Crow (D-CO-06), Gil Cisneros (D-CA-39), Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA-06), Elaine Luria (D-VA-02), Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ-11), Max Rose (D-NY-11), and Jared Golden (D-ME-02).

The full text of the resolution is below:

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Whereas COVID-19 is a generational event that has impacted every aspect of our country; 

Whereas the fight against COVID-19 is America’s latest war, and our healthcare workers, food service workers, childcare workers, transportation workers and more are on the frontlines;

Whereas we have called on our frontline workers to serve their country during this pandemic;  

Whereas frontline workers have answered this call and carried out their critical missions to protect the health and safety of our communities and to minimize the disruption that COVID-19 has caused to our daily lives; 

Whereas doctors, nurses, nursing home workers, home care and domestic workers, and other medical professionals have put themselves in harm’s way to care for their patients, COVID-19 and otherwise;

Whereas fire fighters, EMTs, paramedics, emergency dispatchers, Customs and Border Protection Officers, border patrol agents, security guards, corrections officers, and law enforcement officers have continued to meet their existing responsibilities to maintain safety and public health while overcoming staggering new COVID-19 challenges;

Whereas farmers, farm workers, fast food workers, restaurant workers, food processing workers, and grocery store employees have ensured there is food available to put food on the table to feed our families during COVID-19; 

Whereas communication workers have maintained networks that are stressed beyond their limits so that we are able to access the best information and stay as connected as possible through phone, cable, and internet, amidst physical isolation; 

Whereas truck drivers, commercial pilots, and food and supply distribution center workers have maintained critical supply chains, supporting the production and distribution of medical supplies, personal protective equipment, medication, food, and more; 

Whereas United States Postal Service employees and other carriers have maintained our nation’s delivery and communications network, connecting millions of homes, supporting economic activity, and delivering critical goods, including prescription medications; 

Whereas sanitation, custodial, janitorial, and cleaning service workers have played a critical role in minimizing the spread of COVID-19, particularly in high-risk places that must remain open, including hospitals, airports, and grocery stores;

Whereas construction workers, electrical workers, steelworkers, carpenters, millwrights, utility workers, machinists, ironworkers, and other laborers have continued to work on infrastructure that must be constantly maintained;

Whereas local, state, and federal employees have upheld key government functions and services, which have become more important and more overwhelmed during COVID-19; 

Whereas childcare workers have continued to care for the children of essential personnel, allowing these personnel to meet their obligations and continue their critical work during COVID-19;

Whereas Transportation Security Administration officers, pilots, air traffic control officers, flight attendants, railroad workers, and transit workers have ensured that we are able to travel safely and return from across the country and around the world to be home with our loved ones during this public health crisis; and

Whereas these workers, and other frontline workers, have continued to perform critical and essential missions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Now, therefore, be it resolved, That the U.S. House of Representatives – 

1. Recognizes and applauds the contributions of frontline workers during COVID-19
2. Appreciates that frontline workers have answered the call to serve their country during these unprecedented times
3. Commends the frontline workers who have risked their own health and safety, as well as the health and safety of their loved ones, to continue their work during COVID-19
4. Understands that frontline workers have continued their work at times without complete protections they need to minimize their own risk of exposure to COVID-19.
5. Recognizes that some frontline workers have been lost to COVID-19 as a result of their service, and offers their loved ones our sincerest condolences.  
6. Hails these acts of heroism that have allowed essential services to continue operating, minimized the inevitable disruption to Americans’ daily lives, and played a critical role in protecting the health and safety of our communities. 
7. Recognizes the immense debt of gratitude that we owe frontline workers for their heroic and selfless service during the COVID-19 pandemic, and thanks them. 

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