Gov. Phil Murphy signed an executive order on April 28 creating a commission charged with advising the administration on the timing and preparation for New Jersey’s recovery from the COVID-19 shutdown.
The governor’s Restart and Recovery Commission will be comprised of 21 members, all with a vast wealth of experience in health care, business, finance, academics, and economics, and will be chaired by Princeton professor and former university President Shirley Tilghman and Ken Frazier, chief executive officer of Merck and Co., Inc.
“With this task force we are bringing together some of the sharpest minds our state and nation have to offer,” Murphy said. “As I have said from the start, public health creates economic health and these individuals will help us decide when and how to restart the economy to best benefit both.”
The commission will begin virtual meetings immediately as the administration tackles the work of restarting the state and putting New Jerseyans back to work. Among the commission’s first tasks will be to advise the governor on the timing of the restart as it aligns with predetermined public health metrics.
Among the major issues to be addressed by the commission will be immediate questions surrounding the safe restart of society. The commission will also address both short-term and long-term economic issues as well as areas such as public health, workforce issues and transportation. The commission will develop strategies for how the state and federal government can support the economic recovery of the private sector and identify critical needs for federal support and intervention. Members will advise the administration on potential investments that will speed the recovery and position New Jersey’s economy for long-term success. Where possible, the commission will identify opportunities for various sectors to be rebuilt to be well-positioned for both the economy of today and the economy of the future, while promoting equity for disadvantaged communities.
