Sept. 6, 2002 – Delegate Donna M. Christensen joined colleagues on Friday for a historic joint session of Congress at New York's Federal Hall. More than 300 members of the House of Representatives and the Senate met to honor those who died in the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center last Sept. 11.
It was the first time Congress had met in New York since 1790, when the city served as the nation's capital and George Washington was inaugurated as its first president.
Federal Hall, built on the site where Congress first met more than two centuries ago, is located only a few blocks from the World Trade Center site.
Vice President Dick Cheney and House Speaker Dennis Hastert presided over the session, according to news reports.
Christensen also said in a release that the Congressional Black Caucus and the House Committee on Agriculture met on Thursday with Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman. The delegate is a member of both groups.
Issues discussed, she said, included delays in implementation or resolution of matters relating to the class action lawsuit brought against the federal government on behalf of black farmers, needed changes in the kind and the scope of assistance to small and disadvantaged farmers, and a special initiative to convey information on new assistance programs to those farmers who don't always get such information or help. The delegate also said she discussed V.I. agriculture issues with Veneman.
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