Press Releases

For Immediate Release                                          Contact: Tionee Scotland
January 4, 2025                                                              202-808-6129

PRESS STATEMENT

PLASKETT SHARES HER PERSISTENT, DECADES-LONG WORK TO ADVANCE EQUITY FOR THE VIRGIN ISLANDS

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett released the following statement:

“During the opening session of the 119th Congress, I raised a parliamentary inquiry to bring attention to the fact that the names of Representatives from American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, and the Virgin Islands were not called for the Roll Call of the Speaker of the House. The United States has a territories – and a colonies problem – that impacts the 4 million Americans who are residents of those places. I would like to thank my colleagues for their support, and all who have stood in solidarity with the Virgin Islands to amplify the fight for rights in the face of our present territorial status.

“In my role representing the At-Large Congressional District of the Virgin Islands of the United States, I have built upon the work of my predecessor, Congresswoman Christensen, and numerous Governors of the Virgin Islands to challenge the United States’ reliance on the Insular Cases to justify a racist and colonial legal framework for the territories. The people of the territories have worked together through the years to overturn the Insular Cases, advance equality, and challenge the status quo. In my first term, I successfully persuaded my former colleagues (former Solicitors Generals of the United States Ted Olson and Paul Clement) to represent the territories’ officials and plaintiffs in cases that have reached the Supreme Court. My office regularly partners with groups working on these matters and engages advocacy groups including the American Civil Liberties Union, the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Equally American, and others. This year, 43 of my colleagues joined my bipartisan, bicameral letter to urge the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to condemn and cease reliance on the Insular Cases. In response, in 2024, DOJ unequivocally condemned the racist rhetoric and committed to cease reliance on the reasoning of the Insular Cases.

“In the 117th Congress, I successfully advocated for the inclusion of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) for the Virgin Islands and other territories in President Biden’s Build Back Better legislation – which passed in the House of Representatives, but did not advance through the Senate. In the 118th Congress, I co-led the Supplemental Security Income Equality Act, H.R. 256, to extend SSI to the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Guam, and American Samoa. As I have done since my first term in Congress, I will continue to prioritize obtaining access to the SSI program for Virgin Islanders.

“In both the 116th and 117th Congress, under Democratic leadership in the House of Representatives, the For the People Act of 2019 and For the People Act of 2021 included a path for voting rights for the U.S. territories, including a congressional task force to review the issues and make recommendations on providing equitable voting representation in Congress, voting rights in the presidential election, and fair inclusion in the federal voter protection and election integrity laws. Both pieces of legislation passed in the House of Representatives but were not taken up by the Senate. In response to my request, the Committee on House Administration held a hearing in 2020, entitled Voting Rights and Election Administration in the U.S. Virgin Islands and other Territories, with panels including Members of Congress, citizens, and litigators. During my time in Congress, I have garnered the support of both my Democratic and Republican colleagues for provisions to examine the status of voting rights in the territories. 

“Self-determination, voting rights, and equitable treatment under federal assistance programs have been cornerstones of my work. However, the fight for our rights does not rest solely upon elected officials. Virgin Islanders at home and throughout the nation have a role to play by using their platforms and networks to amplify the implications of the territorial status. It is my commitment to continue to bring parity to all of the U.S. territories. If we work together, we can achieve meaningful change.”

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