Bill Text: NJ A4443 | 2016-2017 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Designates portion of U.S. Route 1 as "President Barack H. Obama Highway."
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-01-10 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Transportation and Independent Authorities Committee [A4443 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2016-A4443-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman ANNETTE QUIJANO
District 20 (Union)
Assemblywoman SHEILA Y. OLIVER
District 34 (Essex and Passaic)
SYNOPSIS
Designates portion of U.S. Route 1 as "President Barack H. Obama Highway."
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act designating a portion of United States Highway Route 1 as the "President Barack H. Obama Highway."
Whereas, On November 4, 2008, the Honorable Barack H. Obama was elected the 44th President of the United States of America, becoming the first African-American to be elected President, and was inaugurated as President on January 20, 2009; and
Whereas, Upon entering the Presidency, President Obama was faced with the Great Recession, the worst economic period since the Great Depression, with the United States economy at certain times during that period losing approximately 800,000 jobs a month and reaching an unemployment rate of 10 percent; and
Whereas, In 2012, President Obama was re-elected to a second term as President, marking the second election in which he received a majority of the popular vote; and
Whereas, President Obama stewarded economic policies that stabilized financial markets, led to years of steady job growth, and saved the United States' auto industry, completing his second term with the addition of approximately 178,000 jobs in November 2016 and lowering the unemployment rate to 4.6 percent; and
Whereas, During the eight years in which President Obama was in office, the United States saw major foreign and domestic policy advancements on behalf of the American people; and
Whereas, Through the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, President Obama expanded access to affordable healthcare for over 20 million Americans who did not previously have access to health insurance coverage due to pre-existing conditions or high costs; and
Whereas, As Commander-in-Chief, President Obama authorized and oversaw the military operation that brought Osama bin Laden to justice, ended the war in Iraq, and oversaw negotiations of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, which ensures that Iran's nuclear program will be exclusively peaceful; and
Whereas, President Obama fought to protect the rights of all Americans, including advocating for pay equity for women, lifting the ban of women in military combat, eliminating the "Don't ask, don't tell" restriction on lesbian, gay, and bi-sexual individuals in the military, and eliminating the ban on transgender individuals in the military; and
Whereas, President Obama's story has been characterized by hard work and the conviction that one's life should be spent in service to others, and his legacy and triumphs will live on in the hearts of the Americans that he has inspired; and
Whereas,
As a true example of leadership and service to the United States of America, it
is fitting and proper for the Legislature of the State of New Jersey to honor
the legacy of President Barack H. Obama by designating a portion of United
States Highway Route 1 as the "President Barack H. Obama Highway"; now,
therefore,
Be It Enacted by
the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The Commissioner of Transportation shall designate the portion of United States Highway Route 1, extending from milepost 8.0 to milepost 49.0, as the "President Barack H. Obama Highway" and erect appropriate signs bearing this designation and dedication.
2. State or other public funds shall not be used for producing, purchasing, or erecting signs bearing the designation established pursuant to section 1 of this act. The Commissioner of Transportation is authorized to receive gifts, grants, or other financial assistance from private sources for the purpose of funding or reimbursing the Department of Transportation for the costs associated with producing, purchasing, and erecting signs bearing the designation established pursuant to section 1 of this act and entering into agreements related thereto, with private sources, including but not limited to non-governmental non-profit, educational, or charitable entities or institutions. Work shall not proceed and funding shall not be accepted by the Department of Transportation until an agreement has been reached with a responsible party for paying the costs associated with producing, purchasing, erecting, and maintaining the signs.
3. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill designates a portion of United States Highway Route 1, extending from milepost 8.0 to milepost 49.0, as the "President Barack H. Obama Highway" to honor the 44th President of the United States of America and the first African-American to hold the office.
Consistent with Department of Transportation policy and other road designations, the bill provides that State or other public funds are not to be used for producing, purchasing, or erecting signs bearing the designation for the "President Barack H. Obama Highway." The Commissioner of Transportation is authorized to receive financial assistance from private sources.
