Supersedes
Executive Order #89 Florio.
WHEREAS, the
Cuban people have demonstrated a longing for freedom and democracy
by expressing increasing and visible opposition to the communist
regime in Cuba; and
WHEREAS, in
light of the liberation movements that have resulted in freedom
for the people in the former Soviet Union and in Eastern Europe,
the Cuban-American community in New Jersey looks forward to the
time when similar democratic reform may occur in Cuba; and
WHEREAS, the
Cuban-American community in New Jersey awaits the day when the Cuban
people are liberated from communist dictatorship, and the Cuban
people are free to form a government that is democratic, respects
human rights and provides due process of law to its citizens; and
WHEREAS, a
liberated Cuba will enable the Cuban people to engage in economic,
social, cultural and educational exchanges with the people of the
United States, including the people of New Jersey; and
WHEREAS, a
free and open exchange of ideas, people and goods will benefit the
people of Cuba as well as the people of New Jersey; and
WHEREAS, New
Jersey contains the second largest population of people of Cuban
descent in the United States and should, therefore, study the immigration
process and its possible impact on New Jersey and its population
and develop appropriate procedures to respond to a potential influx
of immigrants; and
WHEREAS, Executive
Order No. 89 (Florio) directed the Department of Commerce and Economic
Development to conduct a study to determine the likely social, economic,
and cultural consequences that would result from the liberation
of the people of Cuba; and
WHEREAS, the
liberation of the people of Cuba is becoming increasingly more imminent
and Executive Order No. 89 (Florio) should be reconstituted in recognition
of the current situation in Cuba.
NOW, THEREFORE,
I, CHRISTINE TODD WHITMAN, 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. Executive
Order No. 89 (Florio) is hereby superseded by this Order.
2. The New
Jersey Department of Commerce and Economic Development shall create
a Free Cuba Task Force ("Task Force"), which shall conduct a study
to determine the likely economic, social, immigration and cultural
consequences that would result from the liberation of the people
of Cuba.
3. The Task
Force shall prepare a plan to be presented in a report setting
forth a strategy that will enable the State of New Jersey and
the people of Cuba to participate, for mutual advantage, in the
economic, social and cultural opportunities that would result
from democratic reform in Cuba. The report shall delineate appropriate
steps to be taken with respect to immigration issues which may
impact on New Jersey as a result of these developments.
4. The Task
Force shall, whenever necessary, coordinate this effort with any
and all other State departments having relevant expertise or knowledge
of such issues.
5. The Task
Force shall consist of fifteen members appointed by the Governor,
including the Commissioner of the Department of Commerce and Economic
Development who shall serve as an ex officio member and shall
chair the Task Force. In the Commissioner's absence, his designee
shall serve as chairperson of the Task Force.
6. The Department
of Commerce shall report its findings to me no later than six
months following the date of this Order and every six months thereafter.
7. This
Order shall take effect immediately.
GIVEN,
under my hand and seal
this 11th day of October in the Year
of Our Lord, One Thousand Nine
Hundred and Ninety-Four and of the
Independence of the United States,
the Two Hundred and Eighteenth.
/s/
Christine Todd Whitman
GOVERNOR
Attest:
/s/ Peter Verniero
Chief Counsel to the Governor
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