Legislation Document

SPONSOR:	Sen. Pettyjohn & Rep. Vanderwende
Sens. Buckson, Hansen, Hocker, Hoffner, Huxtable, Mantzavinos, Richardson, Sokola, Townsend, Walsh, Wilson; Reps. Briggs King, Dukes, Gray, Hensley, Morrison, Osienski, D. Short, Shupe, Wilson-Anton

DELAWARE STATE SENATE

152nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 35

RECOGNIZING APRIL 18, 2023 AS "NATIONAL LINE WORKER APPRECIATION DAY" IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE.

WHEREAS, line workers are pivotal in setting up and repairing electrical wire communication and power lines; and

WHEREAS, during storms and emergencies, line workers are often first responders to ensure that the area is safe from power lines that have fallen and that communication technologies remain operational in these times of crisis; and

WHEREAS, even without a crisis, the job of a line worker can be very dangerous and full of risks; and

WHEREAS, there are currently over 120,376 line workers working the U.S. grid with the career rate growing 2.94% each year; and

WHEREAS, it takes four years of training to achieve journeyman status for a line worker; and

WHEREAS, line workers serve and work on 2.7 million transmission towers, 180 million utility poles, and 450,000 miles of power lines in the United States; and

WHEREAS, the first lineman in the United States was Ezra Cornell, who built the Morse Telegraph and later founded Cornell University; and

WHEREAS, in 2016, Rosa “Rosie” Vasquez was inducted into the National Lineman Hall of Fame for being the first female American linewoman; and

WHEREAS, as of 2023, there are an estimated 6,100 linewomen in the United States; and

WHEREAS, during Hurricane Sandy approximately 67,000-line personnel responded in this time of need; and

WHEREAS, line workers pulled together during the unprecedented 2017 hurricane season, answering calls for help in Texas, the Southeast, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands; and

WHEREAS, line workers risk their lives working through natural disasters, severe weather, and every other obstacle thrown at them; and

WHEREAS, April 18th was first recognized as “National Line Worker Appreciation Day” in 2013 by the U.S. Senate; and

WHEREAS, this day is to recognize the individuals that work tirelessly each day to ensure that electricity continues to flow to homes, schools, hospitals, and throughout communities.

NOW, THEREFORE:

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the 152nd General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the House of Representatives concurring therein, that April 18, 2023, is recognized as “National Line Worker Appreciation Day” in the State of Delaware.