Press Releases

For Immediate Release                             Contact: Michael J. McQuerry
February 26, 2021                                                        202-215-8524

CONGRESSWOMAN STACEY E. PLASKETT INTRODUCES NEW LEGISLATION AIMED AT IMPROVING ECONOMIC CONDITIONS IN THE TERRITORY

Washington, DC - This week, Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett, a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, introduced several pieces of legislation aimed at improving the economy in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Congresswoman released the following statement:

“It is an honor to be the first Member from a Territory to serve on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee. Seats on the Ways and Means Committee are highly sought after by lawmakers because of its jurisdiction over key economic policy issues like tax, trade and health care issues. 

“The decisions made by this committee have a profound impact on the health and welfare of Virgin Island families. That is why this week I introduced several bills as part of my strategy toward improving the economy of the U.S. Virgin Islands. These bills, along with several others to come, will—aside from improving economic development—address transportation and infrastructure, as well as greater access to education and healthcare for Virgin Islands residents. 

“Some of the legislation I introduced this week includes: 

“Territories College Access Act - This bill would establish a college access program for students in the U.S. territories, including the Virgin Islands. The Governor of the Virgin Islands would be awarded grants by the Secretary of Education to pay for the difference between the tuition for in-state students and out-of-state students at participating mainland U.S. institutions of higher education that enroll eligible students from the territories.  

“Extend Basic Allowance for Housing to service members in the Virgin Islands - This bill authorizes the basic allowance for housing for members of the uniformed services in the Virgin Islands (instead of the overseas housing allowance).

“Hire A Hero Act - This bill would allow small businesses a work opportunity tax credit for hiring a member of the Ready Reserve or the National Guard, and makes such tax credit permanent with respect to the hiring of servicemembers in the Ready Reserve or the National Guard, and with respect to the hiring of qualified veterans.

“Territorial Tax Parity Act  - This bill modifies the income source rules that apply with respect to the taxation of income from U.S. territories, including the Virgin Islands. 

“Territorial Tax Equity and Economic Growth Act - This bill modifies the residence and income source rules that apply with respect to the taxation of income from U.S. territories.  

“Territorial Economic Recovery Act - This bill restores favorable tax treatment of investment in U.S. territories, including the Virgin Islands. Specifically, it provides for a limited exemption from new taxes on global intangible low tax income (GILTI) imposed in U.S. territories in 2017.

“Tax parity of investments by U.S.-owned companies in the Virgin Islands - This bill would amend the Internal Revenue Code to provide for an exclusion from the tax law’s definition of “United States person” for bona fide residents of the Virgin Islands, similar to the existing exclusion for bona fide residents of Puerto Rico, in order to bring tax parity to investments in the territories by companies owned by U.S. persons, and to prevent unwarranted diversion of capital investments from the Virgin Islands.

“Dictionary Act amendment to define Territories as a State in Federal programs - This bill creates a rule of construction in the U.S. Code to include the U.S. territories in the definition of the term “State” for purposes of all federal laws and programs (except where special treatment has been explicitly provided).  

“National Statuary Hall Parity - This bill permits each of the U.S. territories to provide and furnish statues honoring their citizens for placement in Statuary Hall in the same manner as statues honoring citizens of the States are provided for placement in Statuary Hall.  

“Getting these bills passed, will protect jobs and the livelihood of our small business owners and increase the amount of revenue generated in the territory.”

###