Government

Here Are the Provisions for the U.S. Virgin Islands in Congress's $1.5 Trillion Spending Bill

The U.S. House of Representatives Wednesday night overwhelmingly approved a $1.5 trillion spending bill to fund the federal government. The bill includes $14 billion in aid for Ukraine and has considerable funding for the U.S. Virgin Islands, including appropriations to avert the Medicaid funding cliff in the territory by extending the increased rate of federal funding (83 percent) for Medicaid in the USVI through December 13, 2022.  The measure is expected to win bipartisan approval in the Senate as well. According to Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett, whose office fought for local priorities, the extension of the increased rate of federal Medicaid funding for the territory prevents what would have been a sharp decline in the overall Medicaid offerings in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Below are the funding priorities secured in the bill for the territory according to Ms. Plaskett: $659,000 to purchase forensic equipment for use by the Virgin Islands Department of Justice Medical Examiner...