Bill Text: NJ SR23 | 2010-2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Memorializes Congress to enact "Haitian Protection Act of 2009" to grant qualifying Haitian nationals in the U.S. temporary protected status.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)
Status: (Passed) 2010-02-22 - Filed with Secretary of State [SR23 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2010-SR23-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator SANDRA B. CUNNINGHAM
District 31 (Hudson)
Senator RAYMOND J. LESNIAK
District 20 (Union)
Co-Sponsored by:
Senator Ruiz
SYNOPSIS
Memorializes Congress to enact "Haitian Protection Act of 2009" to grant qualifying Haitian nationals in the U.S. temporary protected status.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Senate Resolution memorializing Congress to enact H.R.144, the "Haitian Protection Act of 2009."
Whereas, The United States has long been known as the land of the free and has provided shelter and support for people from around the globe; and
Whereas, The United States has a long tradition of providing relief to visitors who, for reasons beyond their control, cannot return to their homes; and
Whereas, On January 12, 2010 Haiti experienced a devastating earthquake, estimated by its government to have immediately resulted in the death of at least 100,000 persons and hundreds of thousands of injuries, and said by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to have directly affected at least 3.5 million of the country's 9 million inhabitants; and
Whereas, The earthquake leveled entire neighborhoods in the capital city of Port-au-Prince and destroyed much of the physical infrastructure, setting forth a humanitarian crisis of astounding proportions; and
Whereas, Prior to the 2010 earthquake, Haiti was devastated by four tropical storms within a three-week period in August and September 2008 that killed hundreds of people, uprooted tens of thousands more, and obliterated houses, roads and crops; and
Whereas, At the time the storms struck Haiti, the country was in the midst of a devastating food crisis that had sparked deadly riots and led to the removal of its Prime Minister; and
Whereas, President Préval of Haiti has announced that the country is unable to receive Haitian nationals deported by the United States until Haiti recovers and has asked that qualifying nationals be granted temporary protected status, which would allow them to remain in the United States for up to 18 months and would authorize them to seek employment during that time; and
Whereas, The United States has granted temporary protected status to qualifying nationals of other countries in similar circumstances; and
Whereas, H.R.144, presently pending before Congress, requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to designate Haiti as a country whose qualifying nationals may be eligible for temporary protected status; and
Whereas, The magnitude of Haiti's suffering compels immediate action by the United States to assist its Caribbean neighbor; now therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey:
1. This House respectfully memorializes the United States Congress to enact H.R.144, which requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to designate Haiti as a country whose qualifying nationals may be eligible for temporary protected status.
2. Duly authenticated copies of this resolution, signed by the President of the Senate and attested by the Secretary of the Senate, shall be transmitted to the President and Vice President of the United States, the Majority and Minority Leaders of the United States Senate, the Speaker and Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives, and every member of Congress elected from this State.
STATEMENT
This resolution respectfully memorializes Congress to pass H.R.144, the "Haitian Protection Act of 2009," which requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to designate Haiti as a country whose qualifying nationals may be eligible for temporary protected status.
On January 12, 2010, Haiti experienced a devastating earthquake, estimated by its government to have immediately resulted in the death of at least 100,000 persons and hundreds of thousands of injuries, and said by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to have directly affected at least 3.5 million of the country's 9 million inhabitants. The earthquake leveled entire neighborhoods in the capital city of Port-au-Prince and destroyed much of the physical infrastructure, setting forth a humanitarian crisis of astounding proportions.
Prior to the 2010 earthquake, Haiti was devastated by four tropical storms within a three week period in August and September 2008. These storms killed hundreds of people, uprooted tens of thousands more, and obliterated houses, roads and crops. Moreover, at the time the storms struck Haiti, the country was in the midst of a devastating food crisis that had sparked deadly riots and led to the removal of its Prime Minister. President Préval of Haiti has announced that the country is unable to receive Haitian nationals deported by the United States until Haiti recovers and has asked that qualifying nationals be granted temporary protected status.
The designation would allow Haitian nationals to remain in the United States for up to 18 months and would authorize them to seek employment during that time. Such designation has been granted to qualifying nationals of other countries in similar circumstances, and should now be granted to qualifying Haitian nationals.
