Breaking

9-Year-Old Boy Dies After Being Shot in Head in Croixville Housing Community; Police Detain 15-Year-Old

Concerned Residents Clean Christiansted Town Using Their Own Tools, Money, and Some Help from the VI Fire Service

Territory May See Veterans Cemetery Through DeGazon-Sponsored Bill

Credit and Debit Cards of WAPA Customers Were Compromised Since August 30th, WAPA Says, Authority to Finally Start Issuing Notification Via Mail and Email

Sports Tourism in VI Gains Momentum as DC United Team is set to Play Exhibition Soccer Game on St. Croix

Carnival Breeze Brings 3,700 Tourists to St. Croix During Maiden Call; Senators, Tourism Officials Want to See More

Limetree Bay Willing To Provide $10 Million To Help Add Life to a Dying G.E.R.S.

American Airlines to Serve St. Croix With New Flights Next Summer

The Sudden Death of Influential Roots Reggae Visionary, Vaughn Benjamin of Midnite Band and Akae Beka, Has Rocked the Virgin Islands and Reggae Community Around the World

Arthur A. Richards K-8 School Hosts Anti-Bullying Campaign

Come Out. Hang Out. Have Fun at The Meat Up, One of St. Thomas’ Latest Hot-Spot for Good Food with Friends and Family.

UVI Board of Trustees Approves $47.1 Million Fiscal Year 2020 Budget; Sets $3 Million Fundraising Goal

Man Dies During Early Morning Car Accident on St. Croix; Driver of Car Arrested (Updated)

'You Did Everything You Could to Prevent this from Happening': An Emotional Goodbye to Young Aaron Benjamin

Back in Business: Cost U Less on St. Thomas Opened its Doors Friday to Thousands of Customers 2 Years after Irma and Maria

Bill Aimed at Regulating Credit Use by Gov't Departments and Agencies Among Others Held in Committee

Juan Luis Hospital Announces Completion and Availability of Mobile Dialysis Facilities

Tractor Trailer With Tank Carrying Thousands Of Gallons of Liquified Gas Flips Near Cool Out Bar; Driver Injured But Alive

Credit and Debit Card Hack Through WAPA Appears to be Widespread in Virgin Islands; WAPA Says Support Services Will be Made Available to Affected Customers

Facing Life in Prison Without Parole, Mother and Boyfriend Plead Not Guilty in Murder of 4-Year-Old Boy

Plaskett Meets With Congressional Leadership, Administration Officials

News / Virgin Islands / February 2, 2017

Virgin Islands Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett met with Congressional Leadership and White House Administration Officials this week to discuss a number of issues related to the Virgin Islands, Ms. Plaskett’s office announced Wednesday.

Ms. Plaskett, who met with House Speaker Paul Ryan, above, Tuesday, also took the time to discuss the Virgin Islands’ current fiscal issues and legislation she and other territorial delegates have introduced in the current Congress that will help correct some of those issues, according to the release.

“My meeting on Tuesday with Speaker Ryan was very productive. The overall objective was to make House leadership privy to the issues affecting our islands as well as the current financial crisis and to clarify the difference between our fiscal situation and that of Puerto Rico. I also stressed my hope to continue being proactive in informing congressional leadership and highlighting legislation that address broader structural fixes for the Virgin Islands and the other insular territories,” she said.

The second-term congresswoman noted in her meeting with the Speaker that, “although the Virgin Islands has a higher debt ratio per capita than Puerto Rico, its bond obligations are well secured from specific pledged and segregated revenue streams.”

Plaskett also stressed the importance of Congress fully and fairly considering its Constitutionally-prescribed responsibilities to the territories.

“In Recent years, Congress has not acted in a proactive manner to exercise its responsibilities established under the Constitution. Funding disparities in the treatment of the Virgin Islands across a range of federal programs, as compared to states, has been a major contributing factor to the financial difficulties facing the Virgin Islands and the territories. I believe there must be a broader discussion that speak to these disparities. There are a number of bills that have been introduced by the territorial representatives—individually, and jointly, —in the last Congress and again in the 115th Congress that, if passed, would address many of these issues,” Ms. Plaskett said.

Ms. Plaskett said that although there is much uncertainty in Washington at the moment, she is eager to work with her colleagues toward the issues impacting the Virgin Islands.


Tags: ,



Staff Consortium




Previous Post

De Jongh Administration Borrowed Upwards Of $800 Million, Collens Says

Next Post

Is AT&T A Good Corporate Citizen or Irresponsible Guest?





You might also like

Leave a Reply


More Story

De Jongh Administration Borrowed Upwards Of $800 Million, Collens Says

ST. CROIX -- As the Government of the Virgin Islands reckons with its collapsing financial situation following the bond market's...

February 2, 2017