Press Releases

Washington, D.C. –Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett (USVI), Ranking Member on the Subcommittee on the Interior, Energy, and Environment released the following statement regarding the upcoming House Energy and Commerce Committee bipartisan congressional delegation to the US Virgin Islands to survey hurricane damage and speak with local officials on how Congress can continue to support the relief and recovery efforts:

“In Congress, congressional delegations, such as the one I am leading this weekend here in the US Virgin Islands, will be specifically designed to give my colleagues first-hand knowledge of matters relevant to the pending funding in Congress dealing with the recovery of the territory. Members of Congress will have the opportunity to collect and analyze information regarding the rebuilding of the US Virgin Islands. We are hoping that the funding for the recovery and rebuilding for the US Virgin Islands will be prepared shortly in the House of Representatives.

“I have been in conversations with Governor Mapp, who will be joining us at various meetings of this congressional delegation as my guest, about the crucial funding we will need. I am honored that Governor Mapp and the Senate will serve as Host for this gathering of my colleagues. While in Washington I will also continue to work with Congressional Leadership on both sides of the aisle to ensure the people of the US Virgin Islands get what we deserve when it comes to funding for the rebuilding of the Territories.

“Recovery and rebuilding efforts will require an extraordinary level of coordination and cooperation with the federal government and that is why this congressional delegation I am hosting is crucial to our recovery – Members of Congress will see firsthand the needs of the US Virgin Islands. The federal government has in this moment both an opportunity and a responsibility to ensure that the greatest good emerges from this calamity to the US Virgin Islands. This is an opportunity to not just rebuild but to create an exponentially better US Virgin Islands.

“Unfortunately we had to postpone an important House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Field Hearing that would have taken place Monday on St. John. Congress has been called back earlier than expected to DC to handle impending tax, budget and government shutdown legislative business. As soon as the Hearing is rescheduled my office will inform the public of the new dates.”