V.I. Delegate to Congress Stacey Plaskett on Wednesday confirmed her role as a co-sponsor of the Affordable Shipping for All Act, a bill reintroduced by Hawaii Congressman Ed Case to address inequities in shipping practices faced by non-contiguous U.S. regions. The legislation seeks to eliminate discriminatory and exclusionary shipping practices by the U.S. Postal Service and private shipping companies.

“Congresswoman Plaskett has been a longtime supporter of measures to advance equity for the U.S. Virgin Islands,” stated her office. “The Affordable Shipping for All Act addresses the discriminatory and exclusionary practices from the U.S. Postal Service and other shipping companies. Congresswoman Plaskett is honored to join her colleagues as a co-sponsor of this critical legislation to ensure shipping companies are held to a uniform standard of equitable treatment.”

Plaskett’s collaboration with Congressman Case on addressing shipping inequities is not new, according to her office. The two have worked together on similar initiatives in the past, including advocating for uniform shipping standards to address deficiencies that disproportionately impact U.S. territories like the Virgin Islands.

The congresswoman also took the opportunity to clarify a misunderstanding regarding her support for a related initiative. In May 2024, Congressman Case released a letter addressing shipping inequities, which was circulated on social media. Claims surfaced that Plaskett had not supported the letter, as her signature appeared to be missing from the version posted online. Her office clarified that she had signed the letter, but the uploaded version omitted the page containing her signature. The original letter, including her endorsement, is attached for reference.

The Affordable Shipping for All Act seeks to eliminate barriers that prevent equitable shipping practices for non-contiguous areas, including the U.S. Virgin Islands, Hawaii, Alaska, and other territories. These barriers include inflated shipping costs and a lack of free or affordable shipping options offered by major companies. The legislation aims to create a uniform standard to ensure fair treatment for all Americans, regardless of geographic location.