Press Releases

PRESS STATEMENT

CONGRESSWOMAN PLASKETT AND GOVERNOR BRYAN MEET WITH LEADERSHIP IN CONGRESS TO DISCUSS INITIATIVES CRITICAL TO THE VIRGIN ISLANDS

“I returned back to our Nation’s Capital to join my colleagues to support legislation for transformative benefits for working families, advance President Biden’s Historic Agenda and for meetings important to the Virgin Islands with House Leadership with Governor Bryan,” stated Congresswoman Plaskett

 Washington, DC - Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett, a Member of the House Ways and Means, Agriculture and Budget Committees, was pleased to host Governor Albert Bryan as he met with Congressional leadership to amplify and speak on behalf of his administration on a number of initiatives critical to positioning the Virgin Islands for forward progress within the next few years. Congresswoman Plaskett released the following statement:

“This week my office was happy to host Governor Albert Bryan and his Washington team in important meetings with the office of Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Majority Whip James Clyburn, representatives from the House Committee on Appropriations, the House Committee Ways and Means, along with the U.S. Departments of Treasury and Interior to discuss a number of legislative initiatives critical to creating additional reoccurring revenue streams for the Virgin Islands as Congress works on President Biden’s Build Back Better Plan through the Budget Reconciliation process.

“As the only person representing the Virgin Islands in Congress I remain staunch in my commitment to mobilizing Congress and the White House to support the U.S. Virgin Islands’ position on long-term, permanent fixes for the GILTI tax, federal highway funding, permanent expansion and reimbursement of the Child Tax Credit, and a solution for Medicaid and the Supplemental Security Income issue, among other things. We believe that several of these matters can be taken up as Congress works over the summer on the content of President Biden’s American Family Plan through the Budget Reconciliation bill.

“Also while in Washington, DC I stood with my colleagues to advance President Biden’s historic Build Back Better agenda, which will deliver life-changing benefits for working families in the Virgin Islands and across the nation.  With yesterday’s passage, the House took a key step required in order to move forward on writing and passing the forthcoming Build Back Better Act, which will include overwhelmingly popular initiatives to create more jobs, cut taxes for families and lower health care costs – and do so by making the wealthiest and big corporations pay their fair share.  The President’s Build Back Better Act represents the greatest progress for Virgin Island families in 50 years. With transformative initiatives like child care, paid leave, tax cuts for families, climate action and more, the Congress is taking bold action to invest in our families, our economy and our children’s future.  The important step the House took this week kicks off the process of crafting this historic legislation, and I will continue to work with my colleagues to ensure this bill meets the needs of Virgin Islanders.

“I have been working on finding fixes to the issues discussed by Governor Bryan with House Leadership members and staff and I am grateful that his agreement on those issues really supported and amplified their importance to our local economy with those individuals he met with. 

“As a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, I will be involved in the actual drafting, mark up and yes, voting in the Committee on what the actual Build Back Better Act will contain.  Members of Ways and Means have been informed that our return date will be weeks before other members as we work on the historic, transformational legislation.  Having the Governor’s agreement on initiatives that I have spoken about with my colleagues here in Washington gives our priorities additional support and elevation. 

“As the Virgin Islands begins to emerge from the pandemic and economic crisis, it is essential that we not just return to how things were before – we need to Build Back Better.  That is why Democrats in Congress are seizing this once-in-a-generation opportunity with both the Build Back Better Act and the bipartisan infrastructure deal.  I am proud to stand in a position to be one of the drafters and negotiators on the legislation.  As over 400 other Members of Congress vie to get their districts’ priorities in the legislation I ask that you pray for me and my staff that we continue to have God’s grace and favor as we work to make sure the Virgin Islands and other territories are treated equitably and have an opportunity to use this legislation to advance much needed areas within the scope of the Budget Reconciliation process.  Democrats remain committed to the goal of enacting this legislation, along with the bipartisan infrastructure bill, by October 1st.”

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