[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 9 (Thursday, January 13, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S221-S222]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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SENATE RESOLUTION 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

  Mr. BROWN (for himself, Mr. Schumer, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Casey, Mr.

[[Page S222]]

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:

                              S. Res. 490

       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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