Press Releases

For Immediate Release                             Contact: Tionee Scotland

July 18, 2023                                                    340-201-6453

PRESS RELEASE

PLASKETT ISSUES STATEMENT TO PROVIDE CLARITY ON FEDERAL ENGAGEMENT CONCERNING THE PROPOSED ST. JOHN LAND EXCHANGE

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett shared the following statement on the proposed St. John land exchange:

“I recognize that our local government faces the difficult task of determining how to move forward with the proposed Government of the Virgin Islands – National Park Service (NPS) St. John Land Exchange for the construction of a Kindergarten through 12th grade school on St. John. The proposed land exchange is rightly of high interest in our community (particularly since we now have funding in place for the building of the facility), and I want to provide Virgin Islanders clarity from a federal perspective about the role of my office and share accurate information about legislation mentioned by the Virgin Islands Legislature, the Government of the Virgin Islands, and local media.   

“The proposed land exchange is an agreement between the Government of the Virgin Islands and the NPS. While my office can and does advocate for the people of the Virgin Islands, we are not a party of the agreement. This year, my office has hosted community meetings to ensure that Virgin Islanders’ voices, not just written comments, were received by the Department of the Interior, the NPS, and the Government of the Virgin Islands. During one of the community meetings, my office learned of difficulties submitting comments during the final public comment period and successfully advocated for an extension of approximately one month.

“A popular topic recently is legislation introduced by my predecessor, Congresswoman Donna Christensen, almost 20 years ago in the 110^thCongress. That legislation, the Virgin Islands National Park Lease Act, H.R. 53, would have authorized the Secretary of the Interior to lease land on St. John to the Government of the U.S. Virgin Islands for up to 99 years to establish a school. While H.R. 53 passed in the House of Representatives, it did not make it out of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. For legislation to become law, it must pass both chambers of Congress and make it to the President’s desk to be signed into law. 

“Congresswoman Christensen did not re-introduce this legislation during her tenure, and while my office researched this legislation as on option, I have not taken it up again because not only does the NPS oppose such legislation, it has been made clear to our office that it will not be supported nor pass in the U.S. Senate. The same applies to calls for Congress to direct the Department of the Interior to convey land to the Government of the Virgin Islands. Therefore, neither are viable options.  

“Furthermore, there have been false equivalencies between the proposed St. John land exchange and the Acadia National Park. In 1986, the NPS was directed to convey land out of its ownership to establish a solid waste transfer station in Acadia. However, the station was never established. Nearly 40 years later, Maine’s legislators successfully included, with the support of the National Park Service, a provision in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, to permit the development of this parcel for NPS workforce and affordable housing. 

“It is imperative that we do not put out half-truths or inaccuracies. Our approach must be pragmatic, and our focus must remain on developing and implementing specific, achievable goals. 

“I appreciate the active engagement of the Virgin Islands community and particularly the residents of St. John regarding the proposed land exchange, which has been invaluable to the process. The Virgin Islands is quickly approaching its deadline for using federal funding to rebuild schools. As we all know, NPS processes take time, and that is a luxury which we – and the children of the Virgin Islands – cannot afford.”

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