For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
December 5, 2003
Membership of the President's Task Force on Puerto Rico's Status
The White House today announced the membership of the President's
Task Force on Puerto Rico's Status. The Task Force seeks to implement
the policy set forth in Executive Order 13183, which is to consider and
clarify options for the Commonwealth's future status that are not
incompatible with the Constitution and basic laws and policies of the
United States, toward the end of enabling Puerto Ricans to determine
their preference among those options.
To advance this process, the Task Force will assess the current
situation and outline a framework for moving forward. The Task Force
will ultimately provide advice and recommendations to the President and
the Congress.
The members of the Task Force are:
Name Title Department
Gilbert G. Gonzalez, Jr. Deputy Under Secretary for
Rural Development Agriculture
Elizabeth Dial Director of Intergovernmental Affairs
Commerce
Victor E. Bernson, Jr. Director, Office of Legislative
Counsel
Defense
Kathleen Leos Associate Deputy Under Secretary
Education
Theresa Speake Director, Office of Economic Impact and
Diversity Energy
Regina Schofield Director, Intergovernmental
Affairs HHS
Joshua Filler Director, Office of State
Homeland and Local Government Coordination
Security
Frank Jimenez Chief of Staff HUD
David P. Smith Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fish,
Interior
Wildlife and Parks
Noel J. Francisco Deputy Assistant Attorney General
Justice
Chris Spear Assistant Secretary for Policy Labor
Leo DiBenigno Senior Policy Advisor to the
Assistant Secretary State
Sam Reid Deputy Assistant Secretary Transportation
for Governmental Affairs
Tony Fratto Deputy Assistant Secretary, Public Affairs
Treasury
William McLemore Deputy Assistant Secretary Veterans
for Intergovernmental Affairs Affairs
Ruben Barrales Director, Office of Intergovernmental
Affairs
White House
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