OPINION- Published in the Hill- July 11, 2017 Last week on July 4 we commemorated the Declaration of Independence, the affirmative document outlining the ideals of equality and democracy and upheld as a model around the world. For a small group of Americans, this year is also a centennial milestone. It marks 100 years that the people of the Virgin Islands have been part of the United States and have the honor to be part of Fourth of July celebrations. What many Americans are unaware of is the gr...
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Just as the newly-convened 115th Congress began this week, Virgin Islands Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett brought the issue of unequal treatment of the territories to the forefront. Plaskett took the unprecedented and extraordinary step of interrupting the official vote for Speaker of the House to highlight the fact that the Delegates of the Territories are not allowed to cast their vote for the Speaker of the House and are not allowed a vote in Committee of the Whole. “I rise because my name or t...
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Today, Virgin Islands Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett applauded President Obama’s announcement that the Administration will take executive action to help reduce and prevent gun violence in America. “I commend President Obama for taking action to address the gun violence in this country. These are common-sense actions that will mitigate the pandemic level of gun violence occurring in our streets, which have been a tragic and ongoing issue that has plagued our territory. These actions willsave lives...
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Virgin Islands Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett issued the following statement in response to the mass shooting at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina: “It is with a heavy heart that I offer my condolences to the family and friends of the nine souls whose lives were cut short by an individual who appears to be fueled by great hate as they attended bible study on Wednesday evening in Charleston, South Carolina. That such violence and hate should happen in a place...
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An emphatic address directed to members of Congress by Virgin Islands Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett has started a new national conversation on poverty and voting rights in U.S. Territories. Rep. Plaskett’s comments led a segment on voting rights in U.S. Territories on HBO’s Last Week Tonight with John Oliver on Sunday March, 8 2015, and has opened a new national dialogue on Voting Rights in the United States. The congresswoman’s comments come in the wake of the 50th anniversary of the march on S...
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Virgin Islands Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett on Thursday was among the small number of freshman lawmakers in congress to be named to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. Plaskett, a former Justice Department Attorney and Counsel to the House Ethics Committee said that she appreciated the leaders of the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee appointing her to the high-profile committee in order to utilize her background and to assist Congress’ main investigative body. “...
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