Bill Text: NJ AR207 | 2012-2013 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Urges Secretary of Homeland Security to grant temporary protected status to Philippines following devastation caused by Typhoon Haiyan.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 7-0)
Status: (Passed) 2014-01-07 - Filed with Secretary of State [AR207 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2012-AR207-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman GORDON M. JOHNSON
District 37 (Bergen)
Assemblyman TIMOTHY J. EUSTACE
District 38 (Bergen and Passaic)
Assemblyman UPENDRA J. CHIVUKULA
District 17 (Middlesex and Somerset)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblyman Contillo
SYNOPSIS
Urges Secretary of Homeland Security to grant temporary protected status to Philippines following devastation caused by Typhoon Haiyan.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Assembly Resolution urging the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to grant temporary protected status to the Philippines following the devastation caused by Typhoon Haiyan.
Whereas, On Friday, November 8th, Typhoon Haiyan, one of the most powerful storms ever recorded on land, hit the Philippines, bringing sustained winds of 147 mph and waves as high as 45 ft; and
Whereas, An estimated 6.9 million people have been affected by the storm and the death toll is estimated to be in the thousands while the number of people displaced by the massive storm rises into the hundreds of thousands; and
Whereas, It would impose a great burden on the rescue and restoration effort in the Philippines to require the country to reabsorb its nationals from abroad, many of whom may have homes that were destroyed by the Typhoon; and
Whereas, The Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) may designate a country, or portions of a country, for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) when conditions exist such as an ongoing armed conflict or an environmental disaster in the country that temporarily prevents the country's nationals from returning safely; and
Whereas, TPS exists to provide a safe haven for those who are reluctant to return to potentially dangerous situations, and to assist nations who are under extraordinary and temporary conditions and face difficulties in receiving their nationals safely; and
Whereas, Once a country receives a TPS designation, nationals of that country residing in the U.S. receive a temporary, humanitarian form of relief from deportation that does not include the granting of permanent residence; and
Whereas, It is fitting and proper in light of the widespread devastation caused by Typhoon Haiyan that the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security grant TPS to the Philippines in order to allow nationals residing in the United States temporary relief from possible deportation or removal proceedings; and
Whereas, This house respectfully urges the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security grant TPS to the Philippines; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The General Assembly of this State respectfully urges the United States Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to grant TPS to the Philippines in order to allow Philippine nationals residing in the United States temporary relief from possible deportation or removal proceedings.
2. Duly authenticated copies of this resolution, signed by the Speaker of the General Assembly and attested by the Clerk of the General Assembly, shall be transmitted to the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, the President of the United States, the Majority Leader and Minority Leader of the United States Senate, the Speaker and Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, and every member of the United States Congress elected from this State.
STATEMENT
On Friday, November 8th, Typhoon Haiyan, one of the most powerful storms ever recorded on land, hit the Philippines, bringing sustained winds of 147 mph and waves as high as 45 ft. An estimated 6.9 million people have been affected by the storm, and the death toll is estimated to be in the thousands while the number of people displaced by the massive storm rises into the hundreds of thousands.
The Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) may designate a country, or portions of a country, for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) when conditions exist such as an ongoing armed conflict or an environmental disaster in the country that temporarily prevents the country's nationals from returning safely. This Assembly Resolution urges the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to grant TPS to the Philippines in order to allow nationals residing in the United States temporary relief from possible deportation or removal proceedings.
