Press Releases

PRESS STATEMENT

CONGRESSWOMAN STACEY PLASKETT ANNOUNCES $1 MILLION FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR FOR FY 2019 FOR ISLAND AREA STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN CLOSE UP PROGRAM

Washington, DC – Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett today announced the payment of $1,000,000 to fund the FY 2019 Close Up Insular Areas Program. The Congresswoman released the following statement:

“Since 1971, Close Up has provided challenging, hands-on civic education programs in Washington, DC. Each year they serve over 15,000 students and teachers in more than 1,200 schools and youth organizations nationwide. Close Up is the only civic education program that serves every segment of society, actively seeking to provide opportunities for all high school and middle school students regardless of their socio-economic level or prior academic success. Over the past forty years, more than 850,000 students and teachers from across the country have participated in Close Up programs.

“This year’s program will bring approximately 180 high school-aged students to Washington, D.C. from American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands for civic education programs alongside their peers from the 50 states. Funding would also support an additional 320 students and teachers participating in a summit in the Virgin Islands.

“This important program will provide opportunities for the youth from the U.S. Virgin Islands to visit Washington, D.C. and gain firsthand exposure to democratic institutions at the federal level. Every single experience in this program becomes a teaching and learning moment.”

###