Woonsocket Radio News Room

Statement sent from numerous representatives to Governor McKee

 

Tuesday, September 7, 2021

 

Dear Governor Daniel J. McKee:

 

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic of the last 18 months, those professionals that were society’s first line of defense against the virus—among the many, our nurses, doctors, CNAs, police, fire, emergency personnel—were lauded as “heroes” and “saviors” during this historic time of crisis.  Undaunted and unvaccinated, these individuals performed their daily duties at great personal risk to keep the rest of us healthy and the rest of us safe.  

 

However, now some of those same “heroes” and “saviors” are facing the loss of employment due to state executive orders mandating COVID- 19 vaccinations prior to October 1st.  While we strongly urge all adults to get vaccinated, we also believe none of our “heroes” should be in the unemployment line should they make the personal decision to decline vaccination.

 

We, the undersigned members of the Rhode Island House of Representatives, are respectfully calling upon Governor Daniel McKee to amend the October 1st deadline for termination of employment for those licensed professionals choosing not to be vaccinated, and to direct the Rhode Island Department of Health to develop appropriate guidelines for those individuals to retain their employment while maintaining the public health.

 

If appropriate governmental action is not taken within the given time frame to protect these workers’ jobs, we respectfully request Speaker Shekarchi to reconvene the Rhode Island House of Representatives, in concert with the Rhode Island Senate, to address this extreme and unjust mandate, and, moreover, to set parameters for any future state, municipal, and private sector mandates concerning the commerce of daily life in the era of COVID-19.

 

Representative Arthur J. Corvese

 

Representative Thomas E. Noret

 

Representative Julie A. Casimiro

 

Representative Patricia A. Serpa 

 

Representative Deborah A. Felella

 

Representative Charlene Lima

 

Representative Gregory J. Costantino

 

Representative Steven M. Casey

 

Representative Carlos E. Tobon

 

Representative Grace Diaz

 

Representative Anastasia P. Williams

 

Representative Camille Vella-Wilkinson

 

Representative Robert D. Phillips

 

Representative William W. O’Brien

 

Representative Robert E. Craven Sr.

 

Representative Edward T. Cardillo Jr.

 

Representative Bernard A. Hawkins

 

Representative Mary Duffy Messier

 

Representative Samuel A. Azzinaro

 

Representative Steven J. Lima

 

Representative Ramon A. Perez

 

Representative James N. McLaughlin

 

Representative Nathan W. Biah

 

Representative Raymond A. Hull

 

Minority Leader Blake A. Filippi

 

Representative Brian C. Newberry

 

Representative Michael W. Chippendale

 

Representative David J. Place

 

Representative Robert J. Quattrocchi

 

Representative Sherry Roberts

 

Representative George A. Nardone

 

Representative Patricia L. Morgan

 

Representative Justin Price

 

 

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