Bill Text: NJ AJR166 | 2020-2021 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Designates March 9 of each year "COVID-19 Heroes Day" in New Jersey.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 8-3)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-03-01 - Substituted by SJR82 [AJR166 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2020-AJR166-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman VALERIE VAINIERI HUTTLE
District 37 (Bergen)
Assemblywoman AURA K. DUNN
District 25 (Morris and Somerset)
SYNOPSIS
Designates March 9 of each year "COVID-19 Heroes Day" in New Jersey.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Joint Resolution designating March 9 of each year as "COVID-19 Heroes Day" in New Jersey.
Whereas, COVID-19 is a novel coronavirus that has caused a global pandemic, leading to an unprecedented and overwhelming public health crisis throughout the United States; and
Whereas, New Jersey has the second highest incidence of COVID-19 in the United States, leading to the State's healthcare system and economy becoming overwhelmed; and
Whereas, In response to the devastating effects COVID-19 has had throughout New Jersey, the Governor issued a declaration of a State of Emergency on March 9, 2020; and
Whereas, In an effort to combat COVID-19 and to provide necessary services during the State of Emergency, essential workers have been called upon to keep the State's citizens safe and healthy; and
Whereas, These workers have risen to the task and carried out critical missions designed to protect the health and safety of New Jersey communities, and to minimize the disruption that COVID-19 has caused to daily life; and
Whereas, A designated day to commemorate essential workers who continued to work during the COVID-19 pandemic is necessary to help bring awareness to these heroes, and to demonstrate support for those individuals that every day risked their safety for the health and well-being of this State; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. March 9 of each year shall be designated as "COVID-19 Heroes Day" in New Jersey to honor essential workers.
2. The Governor is respectfully requested to issue a proclamation each year calling upon public officials and the citizens of this State to observe "COVID-19 Heroes Day" with appropriate activities and programs.
3. This joint resolution
shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This resolution designates March 9 of each year as "COVID-19 Heroes Day" in New Jersey.
COVID-19 is a novel coronavirus that has caused a global pandemic leading to an unprecedented and overwhelming public health crisis throughout the United States. New Jersey, which has the second highest incidence of COVID-19 in the United States, has struggled to overcome an overwhelmed healthcare system and economy. In response to the devastating effects of COVID-19, the New Jersey Governor issued a declaration of a State of Emergency on March 9, 2020, and called upon essential workers to keep the State's citizens safe and healthy.
Essential workers provide necessary services which are essential to the public's health, safety, and welfare during a State of Emergency, and includes from healthcare workers, first responders, pharmacy workers, postal workers, childcare workers, food service workers, transportation workers, warehouse workers, and all frontline workers. Essential workers have proven that they are willing to put their own health at risk to continue to meet their responsibilities to maintain safety and public health while overcoming the staggering and varied new challenges posed by COVID-19. Essential workers have risen to this task and have carried out critical missions to protect the health and safety of the citizens of the State, minimizing the disruption that COVID-19 has caused to daily life. A designated day to commemorate essential workers who continued to work during the COVID-19 pandemic is necessary to help bring awareness to these heroes and to demonstrate support for those individuals that every day risked their safety for the health and well-being of this State.
