Title: A 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.
Policy area: Congress

Summary:
This resolution expresses gratitude for the personnel of the U.S. Capitol and the U.S. Capitol Police for their bravery and service to the United States and reaffirms the dedication of the Senate to strengthening the rights of and support to those personnel.

[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 490 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

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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. Lujan, 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 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 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;
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
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) recognizes the strength and commitment of the personnel 
        of the United States Capitol who bring skill and dedication to 
        their work every day and who worked through the night on 
        January 6, 2021, and in the days following to restore dignity 
        to the United States Capitol and to ensure the democracy of the 
        United States continues to function;
            (2) expresses gratitude for the personnel of the United 
        States Capitol and the United States Capitol Police for their 
        bravery and service to the United States; and
            (3) reaffirms its dedication to strengthening the rights of 
        the personnel of the United States Capitol and the United 
        States Capitol Police and to providing support and resources to 
        ensure their health, well-being, safety, and protection from 
        further attacks, including higher pay, collective bargaining 
        rights, paid sick and vacation leave, and comprehensive health 
        insurance with mental health resources.
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