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Rhode Island Senate adopts ceremonial resolutions, approves consent calendar and refers appointments
Summary
The Rhode Island Senate on Feb. 11 adopted a series of ceremonial resolutions honoring the First/Second Rhode Island Regiment, proclaimed Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week for February 2025, passed several condolence resolutions, referred gubernatorial appointments to committee and approved the consent calendar.
The Rhode Island Senate convened Feb. 11 and adopted a string of ceremonial resolutions, approved the consent calendar and referred governor-transmitted appointments to committee.
Senator Linda Ujifusa introduced a resolution designating Feb. 11, 2025, as a Second Rhode Island Regiment Black Regiment recognition day "to commemorate the contributions of black soldiers during the American Revolutionary War," pointing to local historical groups and descendants who have worked to preserve that history. The clerk read the resolution, which noted that "the first Rhode Island regiment was an integrated unit composed of black, white, and indigenous soldiers who served together from 1778 through the end of the war in 1783." The resolution was moved and seconded and recorded as passed.
The Senate also took up a resolution proclaiming February 2025 as Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week. The resolution text cites national estimates that about 1 percent of U.S. births — "approximately 40,000" babies annually — have a congenital heart defect and that roughly 25 percent of those children will require at least one invasive surgery in their first year. Senator Matthew Acosta, who identified himself as a survivor of a congenital heart defect, spoke in support of the resolution; he moved its passage and the Senate recorded the measure as passed.
Several condolence resolutions for recently deceased residents were presented and adopted by voice vote. On routine business, the clerk read letters from the governor transmitting reappointments and an appointment to the Narragansett Bay Commission; those executive nominations were referred to the Senate Committee on Environment and Agriculture for advice and consent. Finally, Senator Lita Lawson moved, and the Senate adopted, the day's consent calendar.
The session included several members' announcements — committee meeting notices, an extension of the bill-filing deadline to Feb. 25, and local event recognitions — and concluded when the Senate stood in recess in memory of several residents.
The next procedural step for any referred appointments will be consideration by the named committee; the Senate did not take recorded roll-call votes on the ceremonial resolutions beyond the voice/aye procedure on the floor.
