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WHEREAS, the
respective branches of the military have proposed to the federal
Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission certain base closings
and realignments throughout the Nation; and
WHEREAS, three
major defense facilities in New Jersey have been proposed for closure
or realignment: Fort Monmouth, Monmouth County; McGuire Air Force
Base, Burlington County; and the Naval Air Warfare Center, Mercer
County; and
WHEREAS, these
base closings and realignments, and the general reduction in federal
spending for national defense purposes, will have a significant
impact upon defense firms, communities and workers, thus affecting
the economy of the State and the prosperity, safety, health and
general welfare of our citizens and their standard of living; and
WHEREAS, there
is a need for the State to take immediate action to prepare for
and address the economic repercussions that may befall the State
as a result of the Commission's recommendations; and
WHEREAS, an
assessment must be made as to the potential impact of declining
defense expenditures on the State's economy; and
WHEREAS, there
is a need to identify and evaluate all federal and State programs
that may be of assistance to defense firms, communities and other
businesses interested in conversion or joint use; and
WHEREAS, new
State initiatives must be developed and the activities of existing
programs and personnel must be coordinated in order to meet the
specific needs of businesses, communities and workers; and
WHEREAS, the
State must develop and implement a comprehensive plan to ensure
New Jersey's continued economic growth;
NOW, THEREFORE,
I, JIM FLORIO, Governor of the State of New Jersey, by virtue of
the authority vested in me by the Constitution and by the Statutes
of this State, do hereby ORDER and DIRECT:
1. There
is hereby created the "Defense Conversion and Community Assistance
Commission" (hereinafter "Commission").
2. The Commission
shall consist of a minimum of twenty-five members and a maximum
of fifty members. The public members of the Commission shall be
appointed by the Governor who shall include representatives from,
but not be limited to, contracting firms, organized labor, academia,
banking and financial institutions, air freight and air transport
associations and community leaders. This Commission shall also
include as ex officio members the Commissioners of the Departments
of Commerce and Economic Development, Labor, Transportation, Environmental
Protection and Energy, and Banking; the Adjutant General of the
Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs; the Executive Director
of the Economic Development Authority; and the Chairs of the Commission
of Science and Technology and the Commission on Employment and
Training; or their designees. Furthermore, there shall be two
members who shall be Representatives from the United States Congress.
An additional four members of the Commission shall be State legislators,
two of whom shall be appointed from the Senate and be appointed
by the Senate President (no more than one of whom shall be of
the same political party), and two of whom shall be appointed
from the General Assembly and be appointed by the Speaker (no
more than one of whom shall be of the same political party). The
Chair and Vice-Chair of the Commission shall be designated from
among the members by the Governor. All members shall serve without
compensation.
3. The Commission
shall study the economic impact of the defense base closings and
federal defense spending reduction upon defense firms, communities,
local businesses and workers and make recommendations to ensure
that the various factors cited in the Preamble of the Executive
Order, and other factors deemed relevant by the Commission, are
given proper consideration.
4. The Commission
shall coordinate for the State of New Jersey the receipt and distribution
of all funds to be used to implement those programs that have
been recommended by the Commission to mitigate the impact of defense
base closure and realignment, defense industry conversion and
community and worker assistance, unless otherwise specified by
law.
5. Subject
to the approval of the Governor, the Commission may prepare and
approve a budget to be funded through available federal and State
funds to conduct forums, to reimburse members of the Commission
for reasonable and necessary expenses for attending Commission
meetings and performing Commission duties, and to obtain the services
of such professional, technical, and clerical personnel as may
be necessary to carry out its functions.
6. The Commission
is authorized to call upon any department, office, division or
agency of this State to supply it with data and any other information,
personnel or assistance it deems necessary to discharge its duties
under this Order. Each department, office, division or agency
of this State is hereby required, to the extent not inconsistent
with law, to cooperate with the Commission and furnish it with
such information, personnel and assistance as is necessary to
accomplish the purpose of this Order.
7. This
Order shall take effect immediately.
GIVEN,
under my hand and seal this
29th day of March in the Year of Our
Lord, One Thousand Nine Hundred and
Ninety Three, and of the Independence
of the United States, the Two Hundred
and Seventeenth.
/s/
JAMES J. FLORIO
GOVERNOR
Attest:
/s/ M. Robert
DeCotiis
Chief Counsel to the Governor
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