Congresswoman Plaskett Announces $300,000 Grant for the Virgin Islands Department of Health

The Virgin Islands Department of Health was awarded $300,000 for the Hospital Preparedness Program (HPP) by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The HPP is the only source of federal funding for healthcare systems readiness. The HPP helps national health care systems save lives during emergencies. Heath Care Coalitions(HCCs) is a group of health care and response organizations that prepare and respond to medical surge events and natural disasters. This grant will help fund health care systems with the tools and resources needed to fulfill their mission during emergencies.

Congresswoman Announces $2,000,000 Grant for the V.I. Department of Health for the Immunization and Vaccines for Children Program

The Virgin Islands received a $2,000,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for the Virgin Islands Department of Health.

The Vaccine for Children Program (VCP) is a federally funded program that provides vaccines at no cost to families who are unable to pay for necessary vaccinations in order to be enrolled in public school. Congresswoman Plaskett believes that vaccinations are necessary health prevention measures to ensure the health of all children. The Congresswoman is a cosponsor of H.R 2527, Vaccinate all Children Act of 2019, which will require all districts that receive federal funding to require vaccinations for enrollment. This grant will provide aid to families in the Virgin Islands who struggle to pay for these vaccinations.

Congresswoman Plaskett Delivers One Minute Speech on House Floor

Congresswoman Plaskett on the House floor.

On Wednesday, Congresswoman Plaskett took to the House floor to deliver a one-minute speech on the Trump administration’s decision to reverse their position on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and their choice not to defend its provision in Texas v. U.S., a lawsuit filed challenging the individual mandate.

Congresswoman Plaskett reaffirmed the House Democrats strong stance on the issue, “On day one of our Majority, House Democrats used our very first vote to throw the full legal weight of the House of Representatives against this disastrous GOP lawsuit.”  After the Department of Justice issued a letter to the U.S. Court of Appeals stating that they would no longer be defending the lawsuit, the House Counsel argued in support of people with pre-existing conditions and the health care of all Americans.

If this administration has its way, millions of Americans will suffer the consequences. It would destroy the protections for more than 130 million people with pre-existing conditions, Medicaid expansion for over 15 million people and health insurance affordability tax credits that make health care affordable for 9 million Americans. Congresswoman Plaskett continues to work to defend access to affordable healthcare.

Along with fellow Democrats in the House, Congresswoman Plaskett is fighting to lower healthcare costs for all Americans, displayed by legislation passed to strengthen protections for individuals with pre-existing conditions and lower the cost of healthcare and prescription drug prices for all Americans.

This week on Wednesday, July 17^th, Congresswoman Plaskett will be hosting the 3^rd Virgin Islands Advocacy Day on the Hill with a multi-faceted delegation from the Virgin Islands. Members of the V.I. Legislature, government officials, and community and business leaders will be traveling to the nation's capital to take part. The delegation will meet with Members of Congress to discuss various issues including, the impending Medicaid cliff, economic development, Global Intangible Low-taxed Income (GLTI), opportunity zones, and disaster relief. Members of the delegation will meet with U.S. Senators and Members of the U.S. House of Representatives, who sit on committees relevant to the aforementioned subject areas. These meetings will allow the delegation to discuss opportunities and challenges present in the Virgin Islands giving a larger voice to the territory on Capitol Hill.