National Lineworker Appreciation Day resolution would honor workers in hazardous occupations

U.S. Reps. Linda Sanchez (D-CA) and David McKinley (R-WV) recently submitted a resolution in support of designating July 10 as National Lineworker Appreciation Day, a day on which Americans can acknowledge the services provided by the men and women who work to provide reliable and safe electricity across the nation.

“It takes hundreds of thousands of dedicated, hard-working people to maintain the energy grid in the United States, and our nation’s lineworkers are on the frontlines,” EEI President Tom Kuhn said. “Every day, lineworkers are installing new technologies to modernize the energy grid, and they are among the first responders when storms and natural disasters strike our communities.”

Lineworkers labor to construct and maintain the precision systems needed for the energy grid to function. The complex electrical infrastructure that supplies energy to homes across the nation requires highly skilled workers, many of whom work in hazardous situations involving live wires and dangerous heights on distribution poles and transmission towers.

“A skilled workforce is critical to any industry’s success,” IBEW International President Lonnie Stephenson said. “Our nation’s highly trained lineworkers make sure that all Americans have access to safe and reliable electricity. IBEW salutes our nation’s lineworkers for their dedication to their work, their communities, and their commitment to excellence.”