IV 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 1266 

Expressing appreciation and support for essential employees with disabilities 

during the current pandemic, and beyond. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

DECEMBER 16, 2020 

Mr. MORELLE (for himself and Ms. SHERRILL) submitted the following 

resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing appreciation and support for essential employees 

with disabilities during the current pandemic, and beyond. 

Whereas the COVID–19 pandemic has challenged the entire 

Nation but has disproportionately impacted people with 

disabilities, particularly people of color with disabilities, 

who are significantly over-represented among the victims 

of this deadly virus; 

Whereas the COVID–19 pandemic has resulted in the need 

for essential services to continue even in areas where 

most businesses and government buildings are closed; 

Whereas people with disabilities often work in the types of 

businesses identified as essential during the pandemic, 

such as grocery stores, retail distribution centers, and 

health care facilities; 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
2 

•HRES 1266 IH 

Whereas employees with disabilities also provide essential 

services fulfilling local, State, and Federal contracts in locations across the United States and its territories including government buildings, hospitals, military bases, 

airports, call centers, highway rest stops, private nonprofit businesses supporting individuals with disabilities, 

and numerous other locations; 

Whereas many of these essential employees are supported by 

disability service providers that provide training, job 

coaching, transportation, and other needed supports to 

help these employees in performing this essential work; 

Whereas people with disabilities have continued to perform 

this essential work even though it sometimes increased 

their risk of exposure to the deadly COVID–19 virus; 

Whereas the essential work performed during the pandemic 

has included providing goods and services that were critical to the public health response to the crisis, including— 

(1) manufacturing and delivering thousands of critical products that are strengthening the Nation’s 

COVID–19 response, including personal protective equipment (PPE), hand sanitizer, cleaning products and disinfectants, first aid kits, exam gloves, toilet paper, and 

more to support hospitals, health care professionals, first 

responders, the United States military, and governments 

at all levels; 

(2) provisioning the United States Navy Hospital 

Ships Comfort and Mercy that provided emergency care 

in Los Angeles and New York to free up civilian hospitals 

to focus on COVID–19 patients; 

(3) supporting Federal and State efforts to establish 

pop-up hospitals; 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
3 

•HRES 1266 IH 

(4) maintaining offices and providing other services 

in local, State, and Federal buildings where vital work is 

being performed; 

(5) providing deep cleaning and sanitizing services in 

hospitals and other health care facilities; 

(6) providing call center and technical support to 

State and Federal entities, including operating crisis hotlines and call centers to process the surge in State unemployment claims; 

(7) sourcing and providing urgently needed PPE; 

(8) providing custodial services at military installations to slow the spread of COVID–19 and protect military personnel from exposure to the virus thus shielding 

our combat readiness; and 

(9) working in essential businesses such as grocery 

stores, retail, and restaurants that have continued to supply the Nation with food and other essential supplies 

throughout the pandemic; 

Whereas the essential employees with disabilities who perform 

these jobs play a central and invaluable role in protecting 

the United States and its territories in fighting the pandemic; 

Whereas this essential workforce has continued to perform its 

regular duties and more throughout the pandemic; 

Whereas this essential workforce is vital to the economy of 

the United States and its territories; 

Whereas competitive, integrated employment is vital to the 

personal economies and well-being of the essential workforce; and 

Whereas these essential employees with disabilities were essential before the pandemic and will continue to be essenVerDate Sep 11 2014 00:50 Dec 17, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR1266.IH HR1266

pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
4 

•HRES 1266 IH 

tial after the pandemic has passed into history: Now, 

therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) thanks essential employees with disabilities 

3 for their efforts throughout the COVID–19 pan4 demic; 

5 (2) recognizes— 

6 (A) the essential work performed by indi7 viduals with disabilities during the COVID–19 

8 pandemic; 

9 (B) that it is in the national interest to 

10 provide equality of opportunity, full participa11 tion, independent living, and economic self-suf12 ficiency for people with disabilities; and 

13 (C) the importance of ensuring that people 

14 with disabilities have opportunities to engage in 

15 competitive integrated employment; and 

16 (3) recognizes and thanks these essential em17 ployees for the vital contribution to this country they 

18 have made in the past and will make in the future. 

Æ 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS