III 

117TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 490 

Recognizing the essential work of United States Capitol personnel on the 

anniversary of the insurrectionist attack on the United States Capitol 

on January 6, 2021. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

January 13 (legislative day, January 10), 2022 

Mr. BROWN (for himself, Mr. SCHUMER, Ms. KLOBUCHAR, Mr. CASEY, Mr. 

BOOKER, Mr. REED, Ms. CORTEZ MASTO, Mr. LUJA ́N, Mr. CARDIN, Ms. 

BALDWIN, Mr. MARKEY, Mr. BENNET, Mrs. FEINSTEIN, Mr. WHITEHOUSE, Mr. COONS, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, Mr. BLUMENTHAL, Mr. 

WARNOCK, Mr. MENENDEZ, Ms. CANTWELL, Mr. SANDERS, Ms. 

DUCKWORTH, Mr. KING, Ms. WARREN, Mr. KAINE, Mr. WYDEN, Mr. 

PADILLA, Mr. DURBIN, Mr. OSSOFF, Ms. HIRONO, Ms. SMITH, Mr. WARNER, Mr. LEAHY, Mr. MERKLEY, Mr. CARPER, Mrs. GILLIBRAND, Ms. 

STABENOW, Mrs. MURRAY, Mr. MURPHY, Ms. ROSEN, Ms. SINEMA, Mr. 

HEINRICH, Mr. KELLY, Mr. SCHATZ, Mr. TESTER, Mr. PETERS, Mrs. 

SHAHEEN, Mr. HICKENLOOPER, Ms. HASSAN, and Mr. MANCHIN) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the essential work of United States Capitol personnel on the anniversary of the insurrectionist attack 

on the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021. 

Whereas Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., once said, ‘‘If a 

man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep 

streets even as a Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven 

composed music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should 

sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and 


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earth will pause to say, ‘Here lived a great street sweeper 

who did his job well. . .No work is insignificant. All 

labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance.’’; 

Whereas the United States Capitol (referred to in this preamble as the ‘‘Capitol’’) is the people’s house; 

Whereas January 6, 2022, is the anniversary of the January 

6, 2021, insurrectionist attack on the Capitol during a 

joint session of Congress to receive the votes of the electoral college; 

Whereas, on January 6, 2021, violent insurrectionists, carrying Confederate flags and symbols, ransacked the Capitol, and Capitol custodial, janitorial, and maintenance 

staff—the majority of whom are African American, 

Latino, or other people of color—were there to pick up 

the pieces and deserve eternal gratitude for their work; 

Whereas, on March 1, 2021, the Senior Senator from Minnesota introduced a resolution recognizing Capitol personnel and members of the press corps and honoring the 

incredible and diligent work done by Capitol personnel to 

care for and repair the Capitol in the wake of the January 6 attack; 

Whereas, in the days following the January 6 attack, the 

Senate rightly recognized Eugene Goodman and the 

many officers of the United States Capitol Police who deserve the deep gratitude of the United States for putting 

their lives on the line to protect the Capitol and the 

democratic process of the United States; 

Whereas Capitol custodial, janitorial, and maintenance staff 

deserve the distinct honor and gratitude of the United 

States, as they also put their lives on the line serving the 


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republic on January 6, 2021, and over the past year, 

during the COVID–19 pandemic; 

Whereas Capitol custodial, janitorial, and maintenance staff 

and other essential workers, including Restaurant Associates and Sodexo staff, come to work each day and do 

their jobs with skill, dedication, and dignity; 

Whereas the work of such staff is too often overlooked, but 

remains essential to the functioning of the Government; 

Whereas Capitol personnel of all races and creeds who have 

shown up for work during the pandemic, while many individuals in the Capitol have not taken COVID–19 seriously, deserve proper equipment and safe working conditions ; 

Whereas Capitol custodial, janitorial, and maintenance staff 

were at the Capitol on January 6, 2021, doing their jobs 

when violent insurrectionists stormed the building, barging into the Senate Chamber; 

Whereas the largely African American and Latino custodial 

staff and other custodial staff of color were left to restore 

dignity and respect to the Capitol, the Office of the Senate Parliamentarian, and many other rooms and hallways 

throughout the Capitol; 

Whereas the work of the Capitol custodial staff allowed Members of the Senate to return to the Senate Chamber on 

January 6, 2021, to continue to certify the electoral votes 

and secure the democracy of the United States; 

Whereas many individuals in the United States were so 

moved by the actions of the Capitol custodial staff on 

January 6, 2021, that such individuals wrote thank you 

notes to the staff in the days following the attack; 


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Whereas the actions of the Capitol custodial, janitorial, and 

maintenance staff on the night of the January 6, 2021, 

attack and in the days and weeks following are the epitome of service, love of country, and the dignity of work; 

and 

Whereas many Capitol personnel are represented by Local 

Numbers 626, 658, 2910, and 2477 of the American 

Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, 

Local 23 of UNITE HERE, and the United States Capitol Police Labor Committee which advocate for members 

in the workplace: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) recognizes the strength and commitment of 

3 the personnel of the United States Capitol who bring 

4 skill and dedication to their work every day and who 

5 worked through the night on January 6, 2021, and 

6 in the days following to restore dignity to the United 

7 States Capitol and to ensure the democracy of the 

8 United States continues to function; 

9 (2) expresses gratitude for the personnel of the 

10 United States Capitol and the United States Capitol 

11 Police for their bravery and service to the United 

12 States; and 

13 (3) reaffirms its dedication to strengthening the 

14 rights of the personnel of the United States Capitol 

15 and the United States Capitol Police and to pro16 viding support and resources to ensure their health, 

17 well-being, safety, and protection from further atVerDate Sep 11 2014 01:59 Jan 14, 2022 Jkt 029200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR490.ATS SR490

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1 tacks, including higher pay, collective bargaining 

2 rights, paid sick and vacation leave, and comprehen3 sive health insurance with mental health resources. 

Æ 


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