HR0950 LRB101 23307 LAW 74464 r
1		HOUSE RESOLUTION
2		WHEREAS, In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have, as
3		a nation, been advised to adhere to all public health and CDC
4		guidelines in order to prevent further spread; and
5		WHEREAS, While most have yielded and exercised
6		responsibility, there are marginalized groups of workers in
7		essential sectors all across the State who are inadvertently
8		exempt and unable to adhere to the advisory; and
9		WHEREAS, Farm, agricultural, and manufacturing workers,
10		all of whom must leave their homes day in and day out to assist
11		in the cultivation, harvest, and preparation of the food and
12		produce we put on our tables, find themselves within this
13		unprotected marginalized group; and
14		WHEREAS, The nature of this painstaking and backbreaking
15		work, in addition to the equipment necessary to perform it,
16		makes social distancing impractical and impossible for
17		workers, which puts them at a heightened risk of contracting
18		the COVID-19 virus; and
19		WHEREAS, Since mid-March, President Donald J. Trump has
20		correctly analogized the fight against the COVID-19 virus as a
21		war and has since used presidential wartime powers to combat

HR0950 - 2 - LRB101 23307 LAW 74464 r
1		the virus; and
2		WHEREAS, Farm, agricultural, and manufacturing workers,
3		especially those who cannot practice social distancing at work,
4		as well as their immediate families, are arguably mirroring the
5		risks taken by our military personnel during the COVID-19
6		crisis; and
7		WHEREAS, Federal law currently grants the right to
8		naturalization and citizenship to all English-speaking persons
9		of good moral character who serve in our armed forces during
10		wartime or hostilities, even when undocumented; and
11		WHEREAS, Nearly fifty percent of farm, agricultural, and
12		manufacturing workers currently laboring during this pandemic
13		crisis have been labeled essential workers by state and federal
14		governments alike; it is our duty to reciprocate their
15		sacrifice by assisting and providing them with a path to
16		residency followed by a path to naturalization; therefore, be
17		it
18		RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
19		HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
20		we urge Congress and the President of the United States to
21		grant the right and privilege of United States residency to all
22		farm, agricultural, and manufacturing workers who have served

HR0950 - 3 - LRB101 23307 LAW 74464 r
1		and labored during the COVID-19 crisis; and be it further
2		RESOLVED, That this right and privilege of residency should
3		be granted without regard to previous immigration status; and
4		be it further
5		RESOLVED, That, in order to facilitate the identification
6		of these essential workers, employers and their agents should
7		be granted immunity from any adverse action for having
8		employed, or otherwise acquired the services of, persons who
9		were identified as being essential workers during the COVID-19
10		crisis; and be it further
11		RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
12		delivered to the President of the United States and the leaders
13		of the U.S. House and Senate.