Press Releases

CONGRESSWOMAN PLASKETT STATEMENT ON PARTISAN REPUBLICAN SPENDING BILL

Washington, D.C., November 13, 2025
For Immediate Release                             Contact: Alayah Phipps 

November 13, 2025                                                    202-813-2793 

PRESS RELEASE 

CONGRESSWOMAN PLASKETT STATEMENT ON PARTISAN REPUBLICAN SPENDING BILL 

Washington, D.C.— Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett (D-VI) released the following statement after President Trump signed P.L. 119-37, Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Extensions Act, 2026 into law:

“For more than six weeks, Americans — including hardworking federal employees and families in the Virgin Islands — have been caught in the middle of a destructive government shutdown. Once again, Republicans in Congress have chosen partisanship over progress, offering a stopgap measure that fails to provide the long-term stability our people deserve.  

"For 43 days, House Democrats stood firm to protect healthcare and lower costs for working families. That included opposing this partisan Republican spending bill that allows critical healthcare tax credits to expire. Republicans have turned the affordability crisis into a full-blown healthcare emergency relentless targeting of the Affordable Care Act while at the same time having voted for the largest Medicaid cut in history, and outrageous threats to Medicare – both of which will affect many Virgin Islanders. 

“This bill leaves critical programs underfunded and continues to create uncertainty for our small businesses, hospitals, and territorial agencies that depend on federal support. The American people — and Virgin Islanders — deserve leadership that governs responsibly, not political brinkmanship that puts livelihoods at risk. Additionally, this bill fails to address the Trump Administration's assault on the constitutional Power of the Purse. The Administration has illegally frozen or canceled more than $410 billion in appropriated funds, yet this legislation does nothing to stop these unlawful actions. 

"This legislation includes eight critical Community Project Funding (CPF) requests for the Virgin Islands that will support organizations fulfilling vital community needs. The funded projects include:  

  • $1,698,000 to the Virgin Islands Good Food Coalition, Inc. to build a community food, farm, and technology hub to enhance food security and disaster resilience;  

  • $1,332,000 to the Nature Association of the Virgin Islands to revitalize the Frederiksted Fish Market, supporting local fishermen and food security;  

  • $1,015,000 to the Virgin Islands Architecture Center to rehabilitate the Christiansted Old Barracks for workforce development and small business training;  

  • $1,000,000 to We Grow Food, Inc. to install water desalination and filtration systems for the Bordeaux farming community;  

  • $1,000,000 to the University of the Virgin Islands to purchase telehealth equipment for distance learning and medical training;  

  • $857,000 to the St. Clair Institute to renovate the St. Clair House for mental health and substance abuse recovery services;  

  • $825,000 to the Virgin Islands Department of Agriculture to renovate the St. Thomas abattoir facility; and  

  • $788,000 to the Bush Tea and Therapy Foundation to expand the Frederiksted Center for Community Wellness.  

"These investments in our community are important and necessary, but they cannot come at the expense of affordable healthcare for our people or at the cost of Congressional authority and accountability. The people of the Virgin Islands and Americans nationwide deserve better. Our people have endured enough instability. It is time to put politics aside and pass comprehensive appropriations that invest in healthcare, infrastructure, and the well-being of our families.

“Democrats will continue to stand up for the people we represent — to lower costs, safeguard healthcare access, and ensure that our federal government works for everyone, not just a select few. I will keep pushing for full, fair funding that meets the needs of the Virgin Islands and every community across this country.”

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