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FIRST TERM ACCOMPLISHMENTS 2015-2016
• Named to the Committees on Agriculture and Oversight and
Government Reform
• Named as the Freshman representative on the Democratic Leadership
Steering and Policy Committee
• Named by Southern Region as Regional Whip for Democrats
• Named to Leader Nancy Pelosi’s Future Forum Group. Made up
of a select group of 10 Members of Democratic Conference to
engage millennials in political process
• Selected to President Obama’s White House Renewable
Energy roundtable group
• Led the Virgin Islands’ delegation to the First Caribbean Energy
Security Summit in DC
Successful Legislative Activity
• Successfully removed the Virgin Islands and small territories from
PROMESA (Puerto Rico Oversight Management
Economic Security Act), which threatened VI municipal credit and
borrowing ability along with self-governance
• Secured VA decision to expand Choice Program eligibility for
Virgin Islands resident veterans
• Original Co-Sponsor of legislation to expand the VA choice program
eligibility (H.R.572)
• Secured House passage of the Virgin Islands of the United States
Centennial Commission Act (H.R.2615)
• Successfully worked to repeal the DC Budget proposal listing
USVI and other Caribbean islands as tax havens which would
have negatively affected our ability to secure banking and Treasury
support
• Led the defeat of an amendment to the transportation
authorization bill (Territorial Highway Program: H.R.2353) that
would have reduced federal dollars for the Virgin Islands
• Defeated attempt by American Samoa and Northern Mariana
to reallocate percentage of funding going to the USVI for other
small territories
• Secured Commitment from Army Corp of Engineers for
increased personnel and resources for Virgin Islands backlog
of permits
• One of a small group of Members of Congress to be involved in
the planning of the unprecedented “sit-in” of House Democrats for
action to address American gun violence
• Secured Agriculture drought relief assistance for farmers and
livestock owners and commitment to keep data on territories for
future assistance and to designate St. Croix a primary disaster
area due to severe drought
• Honored by global food and poverty groups for being a leading
voice on issues affecting food and nutrition security
Major Sponsored Legislation
• Virgin Islands Visa Waiver Act of 2015 (H.R. 2116) — Gives
expedited visa process for members of the Caribbean Community
(CARICOM) to enter the USVI for sports, entertainment, medical,
and recreational purposes.
• Hire-A-Hero Act of 2015 (H.R.2457) — Gives tax credits to small
businesses that hire someone in the Reserves or National Guard.
• United States Virgin Islands College Access Act of 2015 (H.R.
4191) — Allows student who are residents of the VI to receive
in-state tuition when applying to participating state universities.
• Lobbied Obama Administration to include UVI as a community
college for the President’s proposal to make 2 years free at community
colleges.
• Territorial Economic Growth and Recovery Act of 2016
(H.R.5163) — Introduced to amend the Internal Revenue Code of
1986 to provide for economic recovery in the Virgin Islands and
Guam, and for other purposes.
• Territorial Tax Equity and Economic Growth Act (H.R.5038) —
Introduced to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to
provide for economic recovery in the territories.
• Co-Sponsored legislation to extend SSI benefits to the U.S. Virgin
Islands (H.R.582)
• Visited Dominica immediately after Hurricane Erika and hosted
Dominican Ambassador in Congress. Introduced H.Res.453 with
numerous co-sponsors for additional Dominican assistance
Field Activities
• Sponsored workshops on STT and STX for small businesses on
federal contracting
• Partnered with USDA for workshops (STX and STT) on
technical support for Farmers
• Had several town halls on St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John.
• Commitment to visit ALL schools in the Virgin Islands, and
currently have visited over 15 schools. Will continue to meet with
heads of school, teachers AND students.
• Organized and hosted first ever official roundtable discussion
between VI Delegate to Congress and Virgin Islands
Legislature
• Organized annual “VI Advocacy Day” in Congress, focused on
elevating VI issues via local business owners and advocates
• Held meetings with various Regional Directors of agencies to
discuss issues/concerns affecting the VI including:
• HIDTA (High Intensity Drug Trafficking Agency)
• Customs and Border Protection
• U.S. Postal Service
• USPS letter carriers
• HUD (Housing and Urban Development)
• VA Regional Hospital in Puerto Rico
Tel: 340-277-7000
www.PlaskettforCongress.com