Stacey Plaskett

Ms. PLASKETT

Ms. PLASKETT. Mr. Speaker, may I continue?

Ms. PLASKETT. Mr. Speaker, I feel sorry for my colleagues and for what is happening here. I feel sorry for this body. I see Members coming in and speaking against me, and I have never even had a conversation with them. They don't know me. They don't know the work that I have done. They don't know the support that I have given to families and to individuals. Mr. Speaker, I worked a full-time job with children under the age of 5 while going to law school at night. Do my colleagues think I would risk my law degree for any individual, never mind a reprehensible individual like Jeffrey Epstein? I would not. What I am about is the truth. Let me tell the people of the Virgin Islands. This attempt at intimidation will pass. We in the Virgin Islands do not back down from a fight. That is how we won our freedom, and that is how we will continue to grow our equality. If my colleagues censure me or take away a committee, I will still do the work. I am here to support people and to support this great Constitution, which I have sworn numerous times to uphold.

Ms. PLASKETT

Ms. PLASKETT. Mr. Speaker, I rise with deep pride and reverence to honor Contract Day, recognized annually in the Virgin Islands on October 1. This day is one of the most defining in our history, and it honors and also celebrates four women, queens, who led the St. Croix Labor Rebellion of 1878, also known as Fireburn. After slaves in the Danish West Indies organized, fought, and received their freedom from chattel slavery in 1848, a new type of slavery was formed to regulate the conditions of the now free workers. The law stipulated a day wage and confined workers to one plantation each year, changeable only on Contract Day, October 1. These contracts offered no true liberty, forcing families into conditions that mirrored the impression of bondage. Former slaves worked on the same plantations as before with little to no improvement in their living conditions, healthcare, education, even their very movement. With rumors of improved conditions proving false, on October 1, 1878, the frustration and anger from the past 30 years of unfair treatment and harsh labor practices after obtaining freedom ignited a rebellion in Frederiksted, St. Croix. Our people declared enough is enough. Out of their courage came one of the most powerful labor uprisings in the Caribbean, one that continues to shape our identity and our fight for justice today. At the center were four extraordinary women who we now revere as the Queens: Axeline ``Agnes'' Elizabeth Salomon, Mathilda Mcbean, Susanna Abrahamson, and Mary Thomas. These women, ordinary in their beginnings but extraordinary in their courage, stood as leaders and demanded all plantations improve wages and the repeal of the Labor Act of 1849 that kept workers in serf-like conditions. They gave voice to the pain and determination of an entire people. The rebellion, the Fireburn, was not without tremendous cost: Fifty lives were lost. Many were injured. Countless homes and buildings were destroyed. Many of the protesters were killed by the Danish Government. From that protest came reforms that dismantled the labor system. The rights of laborers could no longer be ignored. The queens have left us a legacy of courage, reminding us that progress is rarely given. It is only through demand. They remind us that the dignity of work, personal freedom, and the pursuit of a better life are not privileges but speak to the very yearning of every human being. We are now in a time when voices are being silenced by our own government. Those in the public sphere are fearful for themselves, their families, and their constituents. They are afraid to speak up and afraid to speak the truth. People are afraid of losing resources and government funds. They are afraid of being targeted not just by online thugs but by their own government. Mr. Speaker, I want to talk to my people: Virgin Islanders, I am proud to be a Virgin Islander and that my family, my father's and my mother's ancestors, were there on St. Croix during that Fireburn and also during our amazing self-emancipation of 1848. The knowledge of the fact that, for centuries, my deepest roots--or, as we say, my navel string--are in the soil of what is now the Virgin Islands. It is what gives me voice and power. It is not only those queens, but it is the young boy determined to be a marine biologist, the little girl who writes and dreams of being a poet. They are our history and our future. Contract Day should give us courage. In the times that we are in, we may be limited and afraid, but we must use our voice to demand more.

Ms. PLASKETT

Ms. PLASKETT. Madam Speaker, as we mark the solemn eighth anniversary of Hurricanes Irma and Maria making landfall in the Virgin Islands, each as Category 5 hurricanes, I rise today to speak about the remarkable resilience of Virgin Islanders, the critical Federal partnership that secured the necessary funding for our recovery, and the transformative opportunity which is on the cusp of realization for our people. On September 6, 2017, Hurricane Irma pummeled the territory, shredded roofs, destroyed our utilities, and shattered lives. Two weeks later, Hurricane Maria made landfall in the Virgin Islands, wreaking destruction across parts of the territory already spared from Irma. The devastation was complete and overwhelming. Our hospitals were destroyed. Schools were left in ruins. Our children shared schools for 2 years, and thousands of homes were uninhabitable. Our residents lived without electricity for 9 months. In those darkest hours, I witnessed something extraordinary: the unbreakable spirit of Virgin Islanders. We came together to support one another, rebuild our community, and lay the foundation for a stronger and more resilient future. While others simply saw the need to rebuild, I saw an opportunity for transformation. Many in my home in leadership said I was asking for too much and I was out of place. By showing Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle how many times infrastructure had been rebuilt after storms and how expensive that was, Congress recognized that the prudent replacement required that the Virgin Islands should rebuild not how things were at the time of the storm but how they should have been. As the Representative in Congress for my home at the time, I knew that recovery of this magnitude would require unprecedented Federal support and innovative approaches. That is why we fought for and secured transformational changes in Federal law through the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018. This legislation allowed FEMA, for the duration of our recovery, to rebuild our critical infrastructure with resilient design features up to the latest industry building standards, regardless of what existed before the storms. This was not just a policy change. It was a paradigm shift. Instead of simply replacing what we lost, we could build infrastructure designed to withstand future storms and serve our community for generations. I personally brought drafters of the legislation to meet with local government and FEMA officials to ensure that they understood the intent of this body in changing that law. The numbers speak for themselves of the historic investments in the territory: almost $2 billion for rebuilding of our hospitals, several billion dollars for our schools, and more than $4 billion for the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority. There was a total of $20 billion flowing to our population. Recognizing that even this massive investment could be undermined by local matching requirements, I worked tirelessly with the last administration to secure an increase in the Federal cost share to 95 percent for public assistance categories and 98 percent for larger critical infrastructure. This will save our territory $1 billion in matching funds that we simply do not have. Unfortunately, the local government has, at times, exacerbated the slow pace of rebuilding. The first years after the storm were not used to sufficiently build capacity or develop integrated project management, and we have had fits and starts in rebuilding. Our isolation and relatively small size creates difficulty in obtaining supplies and labor. This is further exacerbated by delays that occurred at HUD and FEMA. However, the story of the Virgin Islands recovery is, ultimately, a story about partnership between Federal and local government; between Congress and our territory; and, most importantly, among Virgin Islanders themselves. We must be focused, transparent, adaptable, and driven to make our home the jewel of the Caribbean. It is a testament to what we can achieve when we refuse to accept that natural disasters must define our destiny. As we move forward, we carry with us the lessons learned from Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria. We cannot and we will not squander this transformational opportunity. We will build smarter, stronger, more resilient, and we will continue to prove that Virgin Islanders, undeterred by any challenge, remain VI Strong.

Ms. PLASKETT

Ms. PLASKETT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Virgin Islands- Puerto Rico friendship, celebrated throughout the month of October--but I just wanted to get everybody geared up for it now--in which we recognize the bond between our territories, united by history, culture, and shared values. For generations, our islands have been connected by more than just Caribbean waters. We share a history of oppression and colonialism, linguistic heritage, cultural traditions, and Caribbean resilience. Our families have deep ties, our businesses have collaborated, and we have supported each other through hurricanes and celebrations alike. From Carnival to culinary traditions, from music to literature, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico continue to enrich each other's cultural landscape. Today, we recommit to strengthening these ties through greater collaboration in education, economic development, and cultural exchange, and we will work together to fully include ourselves in the American experience.

Ms. PLASKETT

Ms. PLASKETT. Madam Chair, I rise today in support of this en bloc, as well as in support of my amendment which is within there to the National Defense Authorization Act. Presently, the Caribbean region and Latin America face evolving security challenges from transnational criminal gangs to threats from nation-states. Saint Croix's Henry Rohlsen Airport sits at a critical geographic crossroads perfectly positioned to enhance the United States' regional defense posture and emergency response capabilities. This amendment requires the Department of Defense to assess Rohlsen's readiness for Air Force operations and provide recommendations for infrastructure improvements. The study will identify how the airport can support regional security missions, emergency actions, and SOUTHCOM regional priorities. Already, C-130s, C-17s, C-5s, F-16 Falcons, Super Hercules, as well as the Hurricane Hunters are on the island of Saint Croix. With one of the largest airstrips in the Caribbean, near one of the deepest ports, which is just several miles from the airport, and with oil storage and an oil refinery, we are positioned to be able to do something very important in the Caribbean. When hurricanes devastate the Caribbean, security threats emerge, or humanitarian crises unfold, an enhanced airfield on the island of Saint Croix enables faster response times and more effective operations. We are the most easterly point in the United States, 1,000 miles from Miami and approximately 500 miles from Venezuela. This is a smart defense policy that protects American interests. I urge my colleagues to support this vital amendment.

Ms. PLASKETT

Ms. PLASKETT. Mr. Speaker, there is so much upheaval and so much concern that is going on in our country right now--unemployment, Medicaid cuts, all the things that are happening. Yet, in the Virgin Islands this weekend, on my home island, we had our annual Tart Wars. The Tart Wars brings together the Virgin Islands community to celebrate and showcase our rich culinary traditions, placing fans of pineapple, guava, and coconut tarts in a fierce competition. Mr. Speaker, coconut tart did win this year. It is not my favorite, but I would have you note that Virgin Islanders, the grand dames of Frederiksted, Claire Roker, Betty Lynch, and even LaVerne ``La La'' Joseph, are all Team Guava.

Ms. PLASKETT

Ms. PLASKETT. Mr. Speaker, as Americans celebrate this Independence Day, July Fourth, the day the Founders declared their intention to be free from England, the day before in the Virgin Islands, July 3, we celebrate one of the most historic and spectacular days for those of us who have ancestral ties or call the Virgin Islands our home. It is the commemoration of our emancipation because on that day, July 3, 1848, the Virgin Islands became one of only two places in the Western Hemisphere for individuals to gain their freedom from enslavement by organized violent overthrow. On that day in 1848, after months of organization and planning, thousands of enslaved people, including my ancestors, left plantations throughout the island of St. Croix and converged at Fort Frederik in what was the Danish West Indies and demanded their freedom. Unfortunately, while the Governor of the time, Peter Von Scholten, declared all formerly enslaved in the Danish West Indies free, we now know that freedom is not easily free, and a declaration without full rights and privileges is a hollow declaration. Even today, anyone who decides to live in the Virgin Islands must give up a portion of their freedom: the right to vote for President, the right to have full voting representation in both Chambers of this body, and the right to receive SSI. The list goes on and on. How often when asking for equal treatment, even tax law, I have to remind people that we are not foreign. We are, in fact, a possession of the United States, drafted into wars, loving this country with no path to full inclusion. Imagine if Wyoming or Iowa or Vermont were indefinitely to remain territories with no path to full citizenship. In the 116th and 117th Congress, language was added into H.R. 1 which created a Congressional Task Force to not only create a recommendation to a pathway for greater inclusion for the territories and voting participation in this body but also to examine what has been the cost to the people economically, socially, politically, for hundreds of years not having those rights, including Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands. I will be introducing this legislation this term, and I ask my colleagues to join. Mr. Speaker, let me say to my fellow Virgin Islanders: We, as well, have work to do in our own freedom. As the prayer and chant says, ``We must free our minds from mental slavery,'' the chains that bound us in a psychological and cultural legacy that persist long after the physical chains are broken. Liberation involves more than legal freedom. We Virgin Islanders have had our legal freedom for almost two centuries, and yet we still struggle with violent crime against one another, crumbling sociopolitical infrastructure, and blaming others for the state of our community instead of assigning ourselves work to make it better. True emancipation and liberation require breaking free from internalized oppression, self-limiting beliefs, and our own social systems that continue to marginalize ourselves and our children. Our ancestors made the brave, bold decision to take a history of bloodshed, pain, and inhumanity--a history of being stolen and trafficked from Africa to the West, and exposed to some of the most inhumane and grueling conditions--and transformed it into achievement of their freedom. The environment of self-hatred and hatred of others that persists on our islands must stop. That is not the sacrifices our ancestors made. Our ancestors could not have accomplished the incredible feat of defeating the Danish Army with every odd stacked against them without being unified. Unity and love are inseparable. Let this Emancipation Day serve as both a commemoration and a call to action for us to honor our ancestors who resisted and survived as we do the work of full liberation. Let this day remind us that freedom is both a historical achievement and an ongoing process of our individual and collective self-determination, progress, and development. Blessed Emancipation Day.

Ms. PLASKETT

Ms. PLASKETT. Mr. Speaker, I have repeatedly told people, when asked about the rationale for actions of this administration, to follow the money. Yesterday, in the House Budget Committee, we heard alarming testimony from expert witness Robert Gordon. He reminded us of those motives in the Republicans' reconciliation bill when he explained the lucrative opportunities for powerful private contractors to profit off of the red tape the bill creates in Medicaid. Republicans' beautiful bill for billionaires requires increased work check-ins for people to retain that Medicaid. For employment data, States are likely to use the work number from Equifax, which costs over $20 per person per search. Under the bill, more than 18 million people would have to be checked every month. That equates to $360 million per month, and that is $4.32 billion per year or roughly $43 billion over the bill's 10-year budget going to the vendors who are going to be making money to be processing this. Follow the money.

Ms. PLASKETT

Ms. PLASKETT. Mr. Speaker, I thank Ranking Member Pallone, this body, and my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for recognizing the national security interest of this legislation, H.R. 1737, to direct the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information to submit to Congress a report containing an assessment of the value, cost, and feasibility of developing this transatlantic submarine fiber optic cable that has been discussed. Today, hundreds of undersea fiber optic cables connect North America to Europe, South America, and Asia, but not a single cable directly links North America to the African Continent. This represents both a strategic vulnerability and a missed economic opportunity. The diaspora link act represents an opportunity to establish a high- speed, secure telecommunications data connection to Africa from American soil to facilitate deepened economic connections and aid American regional security assistance. This link will allow America to establish a direct digital presence on the African Continent, both to capitalize on emerging economic opportunities and to protect our Nation against cyber and military threats. The study will examine Lagos, Nigeria, and Accra, Ghana, as potential African landing points. Both cities serve as established telecommunications hubs with existing undersea cable infrastructure linking West Africa to Europe and South America. The presence of American embassies in both locations offers critical security benefits for cable operations. Our adversarial nations are rapidly expanding their influence across the African Continent, and a direct American telecommunications link to the continent is a strategic necessity. China has systematically expanded its telecommunications and military presence across Africa. The Chinese multinational Huawei has constructed roughly 70 percent of Africa's information technology infrastructure. China is pursuing the same strategy in the Caribbean, where at least 10 nations have signed Belt and Road agreements that open their nations to Chinese investment and influence. China's expansion into Africa and the Caribbean makes establishing our own direct telecommunications link to these regions a strategic necessity. Russia, as well, has destabilized Africa through disinformation campaigns and mercenary operations, positioning itself as an alternative to Western partnerships while fueling antidemocratic sentiment. This strategy has made Africa a flash point in the global strategic competition between Russia and the West. Moscow's support for authoritarian governments includes backing multiple coups in Nigeria, Mali, Sudan, Guinea, and Burkina Faso that directly threaten democratic progress. Our adversaries are systematically exploiting Africa's vast mineral wealth while we lack direct access. Russia and China are extracting critical resources across the continent: uranium from Niger, the world's seventh largest producer; gold and lithium from Mali's extensive deposits; cobalt from the Democratic Republic of the Congo; and bauxite and phosphate from Burkina Faso. These materials are essential to technology as well as defense industries. We cannot afford to remain on the sidelines. Additionally, there are many African countries that want to engage with us, that want to do business with us. Burkina Faso and Angola have reached out to our country to engage more, and this is an additional way for us to do that. Additionally, let's look at the populations. Africa has almost a billion individuals under the age of 30. The United States has only 100 million. The entire European Union has 140 million. These young people represent a growing economic as well as potential allyship for the United States, and we all know that social media and internet commerce is the mechanism by which we are able to engage them. An undersea cable linking the American East Coast to Africa via the United States Virgin Islands would create both a critical national security asset and a digital commerce expressway to strengthen America's global political, economic, and military positions. Such undersea cable development would leverage the Virgin Islands' already existing telecommunications infrastructure, which already connects the territory to South America and the mainland in the United States and facilitates additional regional links. The diaspora link act enables the United States to counter Chinese influence and global telecommunications while leveraging our existing strategic assets. The U.S. Virgin Islands not only hosts established cable infrastructure but maintains a National Guard installation on St. Croix with an adjacent military support airport, assets that could directly support and secure these telecommunications operations. The Virgin Islands, the most southern point of the United States, sits at the crossroads of centuries-old transit routes, and we now have a chance to transform this strategic location into a cornerstone of American telecommunications infrastructure. Mr. Speaker, I thank the Energy and Commerce Committee for its unanimous support of this legislation through regular order. This bill passed the House in the 118th Congress with bipartisan support and identical text. I thank my colleague, Congressman Fulcher, for his continued partnership to advance America's telecommunications as well as military and national security. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this critical measure. Congress must protect American security interests in the Caribbean and strengthen our partnership across the Atlantic with our African partners.

Ms. PLASKETT

Ms. PLASKETT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Caribbean- American Heritage Month, a time to celebrate the profound contributions of Caribbean Americans to our Nation's fabric. From our kitchens come flavors that have influenced American cuisine. Our music echoes across the mainland, starting with Caribbean- American children in the late seventies in the Bronx founding what became hip-hop and rap music. Our entrepreneurs have built businesses. Our educators have shaped minds, and our artists have colored the American cultural landscape. Our military and revolutionary mindsets have given Americans Haitian troops during the Revolutionary War, Denmark Vesey during slavery, Sidney Poitier and Harry Belafonte during the civil rights movement, and Colin Powell for his shock and awe. We have produced judges, athletes, and public servants who carry forward the Caribbean values of hard work, family, and community. During this Caribbean-American Heritage Month, we honor not just Caribbean Americans, but the enduring spirit of a people who transformed challenge into opportunity, who preserved culture while embracing innovation, and who continue to strengthen America's promise of diversity and inclusion. Rural Hospitals

Ms. PLASKETT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address a critical healthcare crisis facing the Virgin Islands. The proposed budget cuts threaten to devastate our already fragile rural hospital system, putting thousands of lives at risk. The Virgin Islands' remote geography makes our rural hospitals literal lifelines. When someone suffers a heart attack on St. John or faces a medical emergency on St. Croix, these facilities aren't just convenient options. They are the difference between life and death. Unlike mainland rural communities where one might drive 2 hours to reach alternative care, our residents face ocean crossings and weather- dependent transportation. These proposed cuts would force closures of essential services. We are talking about dialysis centers, maternal health services, and trauma care that cannot simply be replaced by telemedicine or helicopter transport. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to remember that healthcare equity means ensuring that the ZIP Code, or in my case, the island I call home, doesn't determine whether you live or die. The Virgin Islands cannot afford to lose these vital healthcare anchors. Women Veterans Day

Ms. PLASKETT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the women veterans of the United States Virgin Islands on this Women Veterans Day. From the date that President Truman signed the Women's Armed Services Integration Act into law in 1948, Virgin Islands women have answered our Nation's call to service with unwavering dedication and courage. These remarkable women have served in every branch of our military. I think of the great Ruby Rouss, the first Black woman to be assigned permanently to the staff of General Dwight D. Eisenhower, among so many others, past and present. Women veterans of the Virgin Islands and across our Nation represent the very best of our spirit. They have broken barriers, opened doors for future generations, and demonstrated that courage knows no gender. On this Women Veterans Day, we say to every woman veteran in our Nation: Your service matters. Your sacrifice is remembered, and your continued leadership makes us all stronger.

Ms. PLASKETT

Ms. PLASKETT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize another example of the fierce brilliance of Virgin Islands youth. This week, the champions of the U.S. Virgin Islands Regional Science Bowl, the St. Croix Educational High School and Church of God Holiness Academy, stand in Washington, D.C., not just as competitors but as symbols of excellence, Caribbean intellect, and Virgin Islands pride. They represent not just their school. They represent the potential and promise of our home. As always, the small geographic space called the Virgin Islands does big ``tings.'' These students are an example of the potential of the Virgin Islands. These are the future scientists, engineers, and innovators of America. I thank the coaches and families for supporting our youth. I congratulate the students. I know they will represent us well in this week's competition and will remember to stay VI Strong.

Ms. PLASKETT

Ms. PLASKETT. Mr. Speaker, I stand here appalled and terribly disappointed at the actions of the Republican majority and the brazen cruelty and flagrant deceit with which Republicans in Congress and the Trump-Musk administration are trying to shove this fallacy down the throats of everyday American people. Nearly one in three Americans count on Medicaid. Yet Republicans are pushing a cut of at least $880 billion in Medicaid. What is the purpose? This is the purpose. As I sit on the Committee on Ways and Means, I know that they must add $7 trillion, trillion with a t, in giveaways to billionaire donors and big corporations, while ripping healthcare and food away from veterans, seniors, and children. Mr. Speaker, yes, Americans are fed up with the chaos. They are also fed up with the cruelty, the lack of humanity, and the willingness to help everyday Americans who are being exploited by this. They are exposed.

Ms. PLASKETT

Ms. PLASKETT. Madam Speaker, today I rise to recognize the history of my home, the Virgin Islands of the United States. March is Virgin Islands History Month, and I thought I would take this time to enlighten you as to the significance and the unique history, Madam Speaker, that informs my work here in Congress every day representing my ancestral home, the home of my family for over 300 years, the U.S. Virgin Islands. Officially, the Virgin Islands has flown seven flags over 500 years. Since 1917, the American Stars and Stripes have been proudly flown over our islands. Previously, the Virgin Islands were a Danish possession, a hub of the slave-powered sugar industry. We were owned by Denmark, what is now considered to be home to the happiest people on Earth. Much of that happiness is based off the purchase by the United States of what was then the Danish West Indies in 1917 for $25 million in gold bullion, which was able to move Denmark from a recession and depression into what we see now. Those same people, those happiest people, still have not been able to say that the chattel slavery they were involved in, the great sugar- powered industry that they had on our islands, was based on something nefarious. Before the Danes, the Spanish came for gold, the Dutch came to trade, the English came to raid, and the Knights of Malta came to control. Oh, and the French came, as well. They built a colony with extractive expectations only to watch the population die off from disease. I have introduced legislation over 10 years as the Virgin Islands Delegate to Congress to directly reflect this history in an attempt to secure the place of the Virgin Islands history in the American consciousness and to enshrine the legacy's intangible articles of remembrances, which will allow the next generation of Americans raised in the Virgin Islands to know the history of their people and their Nation. We enacted legislation to commemorate the 1733 slave rebellion on St. John, the first rebellion in the Western Hemisphere, and the mass suicide sacrifice which took place on the cliffs of Ram Head on St. John. We passed legislation into law to designate St. Croix, the island of my parents' birth, as a National Heritage Area. I championed legislation to recognize the historic significance of the self- emancipation of enslaved people of the Danish West Indies and to remember our 175th anniversary which just passed. The territorial tax bills I have introduced are critical and will address longstanding issues and compensate for historic disadvantages, as well as to create jobs and middle-class incomes. I came home in 2004 because there was a need for more lawyers, accountants, and architects because of the influx of other businesses in the Virgin Islands. We want to ensure that the worst thing that is happening to us now, our brain drain, is reversed. To remedy the unintended results of historically inequitable provisions, since the 117th Congress, I have introduced legislation to place the territories on par with other States, which is not intended to favor the issue of status in any of the U.S. territories. Every single power whose flag flew over our lands knew, no matter what the century, that the fertile lands of the Virgin Islands were in a geographic place of incredible strategic importance. Since 1917, the Virgin Islands has been the most southern and most eastern point of the sovereign United States. From pirates, privateers, traders, and now drug dealers, gunrunners, oil refiners, transshipments, armadas, and naval submarines, all understood that the Virgin Islands had a strategic value, and this was deeply understood by the American military. Lincoln's William Seward, who was the Secretary of State, wanted to purchase the Virgin Islands even back during the Civil War. He recognized its strategic importance to the United States, and our purchase in 1917, of course, was because of World War I and the fear of German submarines in the area. There is so much more to discuss and that I want to share with Members about DiasporaLink and the National Defense Authorization Acts. Let's remember that everyone has a history, we should not forget that history, and let us celebrate it as we move forward.

Ms. PLASKETT

Ms. PLASKETT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate three teachers from the Virgin Islands, Ms. Cherise Davis, Mr. Cornell Hanley, and Mr. Andre Douglas, for their outstanding contributions and exceptional dedication to their students and our community. Ms. Davis, an elementary teacher at Juanita Gardine Elementary School, is a committed community leader and an 11-year veteran of teaching. Mr. Hanley, a special education teacher at Yvonne E. Milliner Bowsky Elementary School, has dedicated more than 20 years to teaching and is known for his leadership and devotion to his students. Mr. Andre Douglas, a mathematics teacher at Ivanna Eudora Kean High School, was awarded the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching, one of the highest honors in the field. Each of them has elevated the standard of education in our territory and secured a brighter future for generations of Virgin Islanders to come. I thank them for their service.

Ms. PLASKETT

Ms. PLASKETT. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to this budget. We know that a budget is a statement of values. In simple terms, you put your money where your mouth is. The money my Republican colleagues are getting right now is going to the class that they are beholden to, the uberwealthy. The bulk of those cost savings come from slashing Medicaid funding, which ensures that 70 million Americans, and funds from the Children's Health Insurance Program, CHIP, where another 10 million American children are helped. Those savings they are getting are being created so that they can then give that money, give those savings, to the ultrarich. Twenty percent of the population in the Virgin Islands are at risk of losing their healthcare under this budget. Veterans, children, working families who are barely making it, rely on this. Mr. Chair, right here, right now, Republicans are trying to steal healthcare from 80 million people, and they are heading to the bank as millions of Americans are left helpless. What is happening? What is going on? Republicans are intentionally targeting grandmothers, targeting children, and targeting veterans that live in your neighborhood. Mr. Chair, they are going to throw some peanuts, a couple of hundred bucks, at each one of us and tell us that you are getting some taxes back. That is the amount of money that the very wealthy are getting. An average of $314,000 is going to them at the expense of the American people. Speaking of fraud, waste, and abuse, they are going to tell you they are using that money to get rid of illegals. They are going to tell you that they are going to try and dramatically change the landscape. No. They are only changing the landscape for those individuals that they are beholden to--$2 trillion of cuts for $4 trillion of money that is going into the pockets of individuals that they are beholden to. That is what is happening. I am disappointed, but I am not surprised that the Republicans have used this process to satisfy the people that they are most beholden to. Americans must stand up.

Ms. PLASKETT

Ms. PLASKETT. Madam Speaker, today, I rise to acknowledge and congratulate the newly elected members of the Sixth Constitutional Convention in the Virgin Islands. The willingness of each one of them to help us move forward to achieve civil rights and self-determination as a collective people is commendable. The work that they do in this legislative session will uplift generations of Virgin Islanders to come. The legacy of the Virgin Islands--Saint Croix, Saint Thomas, Saint John, and Water Island--continues to be defined by the collective greatness of all Virgin Islanders who have resisted exploitation in the name of freedom and independence. We first exercised our right of self-determination in 1493 when a Carib war party on the island of Saint Croix fiercely resisted Christopher Columbus' expedition, preventing his men from establishing a foothold on the island. Over the next 200 years, the Caribs fought colonization until they were completely eradicated in 1590. Their enduring resistance is our ancestral legacy. The island of Ay Ay, Saint Croix, from which I come, is proud to see this legacy continue in this Sixth Constitutional Convention. It continues. In 1733, the Akwamu, enslaved individuals from Ghana, fought against their enslavement on the island of Saint John and became the first organized armed resistance in the Western Hemisphere against enslavement. They held that island for almost a year until the Danes working with the Spaniards, the French, and the British were able to overthrow them. The organizers of that rebellion chose collective suicide rather than go back to slavery. In 1848, on the island of Saint Croix, those enslaved organized themselves, rose up, and took their freedom. Our freedom was not given to us by any individual or any government. We took it for ourselves. That is the legacy from which I come, and as a daughter of the Virgin Islands, I will continue that fight. The Virgin Islands has held five Constitutional Conventions since its acquisition by the United States in 1917, yet no constitutional drafts have been approved since 1977. Personally, I believe some of the issues that we have put in our constitution are issues that were never resolved by Denmark when we became part of the United States. As of 2025, the Virgin Islands have governed under the Revised Organic Act of 1954, which acts as the de facto local constitution after being passed by Congress in 1936. As not only the Representative of the Virgin Islands here in Congress but as a daughter of those islands, my family on both sides go back in records to the 1700s, maybe earlier. And it is for them that I continue to fight for the fundamental and constitutional rights for which all Americans, including Virgin Islanders, are entitled. When we became a part of the United States, my grandfather's generation came to Washington and insisted that we be a part of the draft. We wanted the responsibility along with the privileges of being part of the American experience. We are part of the draft. We fight in every war in numbers per capita greater than any other State, and yet, no Virgin Islander can vote for their Commander in Chief. I have built upon the work of my predecessor, Congresswoman Donna Christensen and numerous Governors of the Virgin Islands to challenge the United States' reliance on the Insular Cases as it relates to the territories. The Insular Cases were decided at the turn of the 20th century by the Supreme Court to justify a racist and colonial legal framework for the territories. Now, you may ask, oh, why are you saying it is racist? When the Supreme Court Justice in his opinion says that the people who inhabit these islands are savages who cannot understand constitutional law, that is prima facie racism to me, particularly when a Virgin Islander who came to the United States in the 1700s, Alexander Hamilton, helped to write that Constitution under which we stand. However, through hard work, we have worked together over the years to overturn the Insular Cases, advance equality, and challenge the status quo. In both the 116th and 117th Congress, I am grateful that under Democratic leadership the For the People Act of 2019 and the For the People Act of 2021 included a path for voting rights and self- determination for U.S. territories. Both pieces of legislation included a congressional task force to review the issues and make recommendations on providing equitable voting representation in Congress, voting rights in the Presidential election, and fair inclusion in Federal voter protection and election integrity laws. In this 119th Congress, I will continue to advocate for the equitable treatment of all Americans, including my fellow brothers and sisters in the territories. Self-determination, voting rights, and equitable treatment under Federal assistance programs must be the cornerstone of our work. If we work together, we can all achieve meaningful change.

Ms. PLASKETT

Ms. PLASKETT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as a former prosecutor and a Republican political appointee in the Bush administration's Justice Department. I know the law. All I see is the President and Elon Musk's unelected cabal flagrantly breaking the law. Last week, the Trump administration recklessly issued and then rescinded a memo freezing taxpayer funds lawfully appropriated by Congress to local agencies, nonprofits, and school districts. This week, Musk agents demanded access to the Bureau of the Fiscal Service, overriding laws and regulations and accessing the most sensitive personal information of every American. Every promise to lower costs and put the working and middle class first was a lie. The reckless quest to sell out the American people and silence opposition jeopardizes our national security and undermines the very foundation of our country. Mr. Speaker, Project 2025 is the playbook; fear is the weapon; and greed is the point.

Ms. PLASKETT

Ms. PLASKETT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 33. This legislation, supported by the Biden-Harris administration, is an opportunity for the United States to strengthen its economic ties with Taiwan. H.R. 33 creates a new section within the tax code to facilitate mutual investment from the United States into Taiwan and vice versa by reducing double taxation traps for Taiwanese residents with income from sources within the United States. By removing these traps, H.R. 33 facilitates the creation of a strong domestic semiconductor ecosystem, creates jobs, and incentivizes investments in semiconductor technology and our American economy. Securing our Nation's position at the forefront of the chip manufacturing race is possible only if we constantly work to remove the barriers to developing American manufacturing, both in our tax code and regulatory environment. The United States and Taiwan have long shared a strong economic partnership powered by extensive two-way trade, and we must ensure that this partnership remains robust. It is critical that we work to improve our existing trade agreement with Taiwan and ensure that future trade agreements continue to facilitate the development of domestic American manufacturing. As elected officials, it is our responsibility to ensure the tax code works for the benefit of all. Supporting H.R. 33 makes certain that our tax code reflects the values of fairness and trust. As a member of the Intelligence Committee in the 118th Congress, I can tell my colleagues that this increased trade, both in the Pacific and viewed throughout the world, is helpful to America's strength.

Ms. PLASKETT

Ms. PLASKETT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the new Governor of Puerto Rico, my Caribbean sister and former Member of Congress, Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon. I would like to take this opportunity to reflect on her remarkable work while a Member here in this body. As co-chairs of the Rum Caucus, the first caucus dedicated to promoting the rum industry, we successfully advocated for the Rum Cover Over legislation, which increased the amount of tax revenue generated from the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico on rum that was sold in the mainland. Additionally, I am grateful for our bipartisan efforts to improve security in the Caribbean, ensuring that Federal agencies are properly equipped to hold drug traffickers accountable, and of course our work together to change the Stafford Act in 2018 after the devastating hurricanes of Irma and Maria in our district, which has brought billions of dollars to rebuild both the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. Although her presence will be missed in Congress, I look forward to seeing the incredible impact she will have in her new role as Governor of Puerto Rico.

Ms. PLASKETT

Ms. PLASKETT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address a crisis in the Virgin Islands. On December 13, a shooting claimed the life of another of my constituents. My deepest condolences go to the families and loved ones of each of the 42 victims who have died by homicide in 2024 in the Virgin Islands. Throughout the Caribbean, gun violence, driven by unemployment and drug and human trafficking, is pervasive. During a recent codel to Barbados, led by Leader Jeffries, we heard similar concerns from our Caribbean allies. The Senate must pass the ONDCP Reauthorization Act, which includes my Caribbean Border Counternarcotics Strategy Act, to combat the illegal trafficking of deadly drugs which traverse through American territories in the Caribbean. In the Virgin Islands, 93 percent of guns recovered by law enforcement were trafficked illegally into the territory, and the homicide rate is nine times higher than the continental United States. We need our Federal partners, especially ATF, to provide resources and maintain a presence in the territory.

Ms. PLASKETT

Ms. PLASKETT. Madam Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge and celebrate Kevre Hendricks, a master musician, dedicated educator, Virgin Islands National Guardsman, and this year's honoree for the Crucian Christmas Festival Village in my home, St. Croix. Mr. Hendricks is a passionate advocate for music and the arts in our community and tremendously committed to the work of supporting young people interested in music. He not only teaches music but also teaches creativity, discipline, and dedication to craft. He is a teacher, a band director for St. Croix Educational Complex High School, and the musical director of a local band that has won the Crucian Christmas Festival Road March numerous times. Congratulations to Cousin Kevre on this well-deserved recognition. We all look forward to this year's Village experience and Maestro's Musical Haven. Festival on St. Croix is the warmest celebration of all, with sweet music, food, and fellowship.

Ms. PLASKETT

Ms. PLASKETT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today and speak on behalf of so many individuals, who do not have the ability to speak, to address a crisis in our hemisphere and a significant threat to American regional stability, our neighbor to the south and our ally from the inception of this country's birth, Haiti. The elected government of Haiti collapsed some time ago, leaving gangs in control of the capital and raining chaos down upon the Haitian people. Although Haiti holds the distinction of being the first republic of people of African descent and one of the oldest nations in the Americas, Haiti faces a significant and ongoing humanitarian crisis, overwhelmed by gangs that systematically endanger its democratic process. Don't be fooled that this does not affect the United States. The persistent failed state situation is an open opportunity for America's adversaries to destabilize the Caribbean region and undermine the security of neighboring nations. We are seeing the outlines of malign actors, including those with whom we are in global competition. Since President Jovenel Moise's assassination more than 3 years ago, gangs seized complete control, creating a humanitarian catastrophe that has left more than 12,000 people dead and forced nearly 800,000 from their homes. More than 5,000 people in Haiti have been killed by the gangs alone this year. Just last weekend, more than 180 people were killed in Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince, as part of a multiday slaughter that was the result of a gang leader massacring older people and those he believed practiced Vodou as a personal vendetta to avenge his son's grave illness. Without immediate support, the crisis in Haiti will worsen, the criminal network will expand, and Americans will suffer the consequences. Haiti's Caribbean neighbors do not have the infrastructure or the capacity to accommodate this continued influx of refugees, which has seen hundreds of thousands of Haitian migrants at their borders seeking a safer place to live. The Multinational Security Support Mission, led largely by officers from Kenya, has never received the support it needs to make an impact in the fight for the security and stability in Haiti. The mission is currently undermanned and underfunded. Many of our closest allies are not close to meeting their pledged obligations, nor have we in Congress given the resources that we said to advance the peace and prosperity of that nation. In particular, let me single out France. Where is France? Haiti has long suffered from the legacy of slavery and colonialism and the exploitation of resources by France. Upon winning a revolution, France, with our acquiescence, forced Haiti to pay $28 billion as a debt for their freedom and lost revenues from slavery. France enslaved and trafficked those people, extracted many mountains of wealth from Haiti, and kept taking from the Haitian people long after those people had achieved their personal emancipation and national freedom from the country of France. The nation of Haiti, with its past, current, and ongoing humanitarian crises, is a testament to the tragedy of that wealth extraction. I urge our allies to join us in providing meaningful financial support, especially France, to advance stability and allow the people of Haiti to prosper. As I said earlier, the instability in Haiti is not only of humanitarian crisis, but a threat to our national security. Our adversaries have already set their sights on expanding their reach to the United States' third border in the Caribbean. The continued expansion of Russian and Chinese influence, as well as military support in the region, threatens our national security, our prosperity, and our democratic values. Depending on what Congress does or does not do will be what will happen to Haiti. The reauthorization of HOPE/HELP trade preference program will keep providing economic opportunities for Haiti. The apparel sector is one of the last formal sectors of Haiti's economy and represents nearly 80 percent of Haiti's exports. They used to have 60,000 jobs in this area which have now dropped to 25,000. Congress must act. We as Americans must act, if not just for the Haitian people, then for our own security.