| Congresswoman Plaskett Speaks Up About Territorial Inequity |
Last week Congresswoman Plaskett participated in debate on the House Floor during which she spoke about the United States' history of underfunding and neglecting its territories. Plaskett cited Medicaid and highway funding as examples of the inequitable treatment that territories receive. The Congresswoman also reminded her colleagues that the reason that the Virgin Islands doesn't pay federal taxes is because of a deal made by Congress to avoid providing adequate funding to the territories. She ended by saying that the inequitable treatment is a "sham."
Watch the video here. |
| Congresswoman Plaskett Attends Natural Resources Hearing |
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While Congresswoman Plaskett is not a member of the House Committee on Natural Resources she had the opportunity to attend and ask questions at a recent hearing. Governor Albert Bryan was a witness at this hearing. Congresswoman Plaskett asked him questions about how and why he believes initiatives proposed by the Congresswoman such as a visa waiver for the territory and a return to the Virgin Islands all tax revenue of tax collected from gas refined in the Virgin Islands will be of great economic benefit to the territory. The Congresswoman finished by stating "I don't think it's the intention of any of the territories to ask for handouts. We're just asking for equity and the tools to sustain and grow our economies." |
| Congresswoman Plaskett Attends IGIA Meeting |
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| Congresswoman Plaskett and Gov. Bryan at the IGIA meeting |
Congresswoman Plaskett this week attended the annual Interagency Group on Insular Areas (IGIA) meeting. IGIA's purpose is to focus the federal government's attention on issues facing the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Governor Albert Bryan was in attendance with the other governors of the aforementioned territories. The Congresswoman in her remarks commented on FEMA's disconcerting treatment of the Virgin Islands as well as the positive impact of the recently passed measures that will allow the Virgin Islands to undertake various infrastructure projects. |
| Members of Congress to Visit the Virgin Islands |
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This weekend two delegations of Members of Congress will be visiting the territory. One, a group of Members who sit on the House Committee of Agriculture will be touring the 49th Agrifest in St. Croix and meeting with stakeholders in the Virgin Islands agriculture industry to gain an understanding of the opportunities and challenges our agriculturists face. The Members of the second delegation sit on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and are coming to see the progress of recovery efforts and visit some of our ports. |
ST.CROIX DISTRICT OFFICE
60 KING STREET
FREDERIKSTED, VI 00840
340.778.5900 |
ST.THOMAS DISTRICT OFFICE
9100 HAVENSIGHT
PORT OF SALE MALL, SUITE 22
ST. THOMAS, VI 00802
340.774.4408 |
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