Press Releases

For Immediate Release                             Contact: Michael J. McQuerry
February 8, 2022                                                   202-215-8524

PRESS STATEMENT

PLASKETT ANNOUNCES HOUSE PASSAGE OF U.S. COMPETITIVENESS BILL THAT INCLUDES PROVISIONS FOR THE VIRGIN ISLANDS

Washington, DC – Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett, a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, released the following statement regarding the House of Representatives’ passage of the America COMPETES Act of 2022, which includes significant legislation sponsored by her office:

“The America COMPETES Act of 2022 includes bold, smart and strategic investments to power the success of America’s workers, businesses and economy – based on bipartisan bills, many of which have already passed the House with bipartisan support. I am extremely pleased that the House agreed to my amendment to include my and Rep. Don Young’s proposal for a new $10 billion NOAA grant program to implement projects that restore a marine, estuarine, or coastal habitat in the United States, create jobs for fishermen in the United States, or facilitate climate change adaptation along U.S. coastlines.

“Among other notable features, the bill contains the following provisions for the Virgin Islands and the broader Caribbean:

• extends the trade adjustment assistance for workers program to the Virgin Islands and other U.S. territories;
• expands apprenticeship opportunities in the Virgin Islands;
• includes funding for STEM education at HBCUs;
• directs the U.S. State Department to submit a multi-year strategy for increasing U.S. economic competitiveness and promoting good governance, human rights, and the rule of law in Latin American and Caribbean countries;
• promotes U.S. regional cooperation with Caribbean countries for improving energy security, grid reliability, and energy efficiency, as well as reforming energy markets and investing in cleaner energy technologies;
• promotes long-term resilience in the Caribbean to natural disasters, severe weather events, and a changing ocean environment by authorizing appropriations in support of the U.S. Caribbean Resilience Partnership launched in 2019; and
• updates and creates programs to address climate change, ecosystem loss, disease outbreaks, and other threats to coral reefs.

“The America COMPETES Act reflects bipartisan work across committees: its major components include many bills that have already passed the House by strong bipartisan votes or have bipartisan cosponsors. My team and I continue to work diligently in order to secure provisions that will bolster our territory and the Caribbean region across every sector—energy, climate change, disaster recovery, our economy, technology and education. My colleagues and I look forward to swiftly going to conference with the Senate so that we can put a strong bill for America on the President’s desk to sign into law.”

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