Press Releases

The Office of Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett in conjunction with the Army’s Office of the Chief Legislative Liaison will host a delegation of congressional staff in the territory for a congressional oversight activity beginning on Nov. 18.

The oversight activity will provide the delegation of congressional armed services staff with vital information and familiarization of the local homeland security efforts in combating drug trafficking within the USVI and Puerto Rico and the various issues and challenges impacting those efforts.

The delegation will also learn of the mission of the United States Virgin Islands’ Army and Air National Guard, U.S. Army Reserve, and the United States Coast Guard in the U.S. Virgin Islands and their role in the Defense Support to Civil Authorities in the Homeland Security defense mission.

“Having these high-level congressional staff learn the functions and the challenges of our local component to this Nation’s homeland security mission is important. They are the individuals who advise Members of Congress when they make the policy decisions that directly impact these functions, so being familiar with the operations in the territory will serve to elevate our issues and challenges in the policy discussions in Congress.  It is our intent to create new advocates among Congressional staffers who have visited and seen first hand the challenges in the territory and will be able to have points of reference when issues of border security, ports and transshipment, illegal gun and drug trafficking and military challenges are discussed,” Plaskett said.

The Delegation will also visit the Veterans Affairs office and clinic, the Drug Enforcement Agency, Customs and Border Patrol, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and representatives from the National Park Service.

The Congressional Oversight Activity ends on Nov. 22.    

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