EFTA00591683.pdf

VOTE STACEY PLASKETT FOR CONGRESS UNITED STATES VIRGIN ISLANDS 2016 FIRST TERM ACCOMPLISHMENTS 2015-2016 Named to the Committees on Agriculture and Oversight and Major Sponsored Legislation Government Reform Virgin Islands Visa Waiver Act of 2015 (H.R. 2116) — Gives Named as the Freshman representative on the Democratic Lead- expedited visa process for members of the Caribbean Community ership Steering and Policy Committee (CARICOM) to enter the USVI for sports, entertainment, medical, Named by Southern Region as Regional Whip for Democrats and recreational purposes. Named to Leader Nancy Pelosi's Future Forum Group. Made up • Hire-A-Hero Act of 2015 (H.R.2457) — Gives tax credits to small of a select group of 10 Members of Democratic Conference to businesses that hire someone in the Reserves or National Guard. engage millennials in political process • United States Virgin Islands College Access Act of 2015 (H.R. Selected to President Obama's White House Renewable 4191) —Allows student who are residents of the VI to receive Energy roundtable group in-state tuition when applying to participating state universities. Led the Virgin Islands delegation to the First Caribbean Energy • Lobbied Obama Administration to include UVI as a community Security Summit in DC college for the President's proposal to make 2 years free at com- munity colleges. Successful Legislative Activity • Territorial Economic Growth and Recovery Act of 2016 (H.R.5163) — Introduced to amend the Internal Revenue Code of • Successfully removed the Virgin Islands and small territories from 1986 to provide for economic recovery in the Virgin Islands and PROMESA (Puerto Rico Oversight Management Guam, and for other purposes. Economic Security Act), which threatened VI municipal credit and Territorial Tax Equity and Economic Growth Act (I-I.R.5038) — borrowing ability along with self-governance Introduced to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to • Secured VA decision to expand Choice Program eligibility for provide for economic recovery in the territories. Virgin Islands resident veterans Co-Sponsored legislation to extend SSI benefits to the U.S. Virgin • Original Co-Sponsor of legislation to expand the VA choice pro- Islands (H.R.582) gram eligibility (H.R.572) Visited Dominica immediately after Hurricane Erika and hosted • Secured House passage of the Virgin Islands of the United States Dominican Ambassador in Congress. Introduced H.Res.453 with Centennial Commission Act (H.R.2615) numerous co-sponsors for additional Dominican assistance Successfully worked to repeal the DC Budget proposal listing USVI and other Caribbean islands as tax havens which would field Activities have negatively affected our ability to secure banking and Trea- sury support Sponsored workshops on STT and STX for small businesses on Led the defeat of an amendment to the transportation federal contracting authorization bill (Territorial Highway Program: H.R.2353) that • Partnered with USDA for workshops (STX and STT) on would have reduced federal dollars for the Virgin Islands technical support for Farmers Defeated attempt by American Samoa and Northern Mariana • Had several town halls on St Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John. to reallocate percentage of funding going to the USVI for other • Commitment to visit ALL schools in the Virgin Islands, and small territories currently have visited over 15 schools. Will continue to meet with Secured Commitment from Army Corp of Engineers for heads of school, teachers AND students. increased personnel and resources for Virgin Islands backlog • Organized and hosted first ever official roundtable discussion of permits between VI Delegate to Congress and Virgin Islands One of a small group of Members of Congress to be involved in Legislature the planning of the unprecedented -sit-in' of House Democrats for • Organized annual 'VI Advocacy Day' in Congress, focused on action to address American gun violence elevating VI issues via local business owners and advocates Secured Agriculture drought relief assistance for farmers and • Held meetings with various Regional Directors of agencies to twestock owners and commitment to keep data on territories for discuss issues/concerns affecting the VI including: future assistance and to designate St. Croix a primary disaster area due to severe drought • HIDTA (High Intensity Drug Trafficking Agency) • Customs and Border Protection Honored by global food and poverty groups for being a leading • U.S. Postal Service voice on issues affecting food and nutrition security • USPS letter caniers • HUD (Housing and Urban Development) • VA Regional Hospital in Puerto Rico EFTA00591683