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House marks Saint Patrick's Day and adopts multiple awareness proclamations
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Summary
On March 17, 2026, the Rhode Island House heard a Saint Patrick's Day poem, recognized McDonald's support for the Ronald McDonald House, and approved proclamations declaring March Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month, Profound Autism Day, Brain Injury Awareness Month and Transit Employee Appreciation Day; the House also adopted memorial adjournments.
Members of the Rhode Island House observed Saint Patrick's Day on the floor with a poem, community recognitions and a string of ceremonial resolutions.
Chairman McNamara opened the announcements with a poem linking Irish-American heritage and teamwork. Speaker pro tem Kennedy and others offered remarks about the Irish-American relationship; the floor recognized former representative Anastasia Williams with applause.
Chairwoman Fogarty introduced guests from McDonald's and the Ronald McDonald House of New England, saying McDonald's had donated a portion of Shamrock Shake sales to the Providence Ronald McDonald House; she said the campaign raised roughly $100,000 in recent weeks and cited a regional contribution of about $1.9 million last year. Fogarty introduced David Balducci, Joseph and Vincent Spadea (McDonald's franchise owners) and Lauren Hoop Schmegg, CEO of the Ronald McDonald House of New England.
The House approved and left on the desk a series of resolutions and proclamations: a resolution celebrating Saint Patrick's Day and honoring Irish American patriots; a proclamation designating March 2026 Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month; a resolution declaring March Brain Injury Awareness Month and noting an estimate that 12,000 Rhode Islanders sustain traumatic brain injuries annually; a proclamation designating March 17 Profound Autism Day and recognizing families and advocates for individuals with profound autism; and a resolution declaring March 18 Transit Employee Appreciation Day acknowledging RIPTA drivers' service. The House also adopted memorial adjournments in memory of Henry Fallella and Anna Casale.
The transcript records these items as ceremonial and for further signatures; no substantive policy changes or votes on appropriations were recorded in these segments.
