Senator Marvin Blyden, vice-chair of the Committee on Human Services, praised the upcoming launch of a permanent federal food benefit program. Under this program, all 12,000 plus children enrolled in school lunch participating schools will receive a SNAP benefit to help with food expenses during the summer months.
Rep. Plaskett, Rep. Strickland and Rep. Yvette Clarke (NY-09) joined the Black Innovation Alliance, Microsoft and several distinguished panelists for the “Future of AI: Ensuring Equity for Black Innovators,” event— a discussion on the future of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and equality for Black Innovators.
On June 24, the 35th Legislature voted favorably on Sen. Diane Capehart’s Amendment No. 35-731 to provide funding for agricultural machinery and equipment to local farmers. Advanced technology in farming has increased profits and decreased the use of water, fertilizer and pesticides.
Senate Majority Leader Kenneth L. Gittens is calling on the Supreme Court of the Virgin Islands to render its opinion in the case, which focuses on the validity of Act 8472 - Legislation to reorganize the composition of the Water and Power Authority Board, he announced Friday.
Sen. Marvin Blyden, Senate vice president and chairman of the Committee on Housing, Transportation & Telecommunications, expressed his outrage and concern regarding the recent revelations of corruption by public officials and lamented the impact that misuse of funds or resources has on the public, both in terms of services not delivered and of erosion of public trust.
"Last month, I co-led a bipartisan, bicameral letter, signed by 43 members of Congress, urging the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to condemn and cease reliance on the racist rulings of the Insular Cases that continue to negatively impact U.S. territories, today."
Thursday, Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett accompanied President Joe Biden, and they met Vice President Kamala Harris on Air Force One to attend a rally at Girard College and a later meeting with Black Businesses in Philadelphia, Penn.
Congresswoman Plaskett and two other members of Congress are leading the fight to lift the hold by Republicans on the State Department’s request for $94 million to alleviate the crisis in Haiti.
Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett hosted a reception in honor of National Police Week, where two fallen heroes from the U.S. Virgin Islands, Detective Delbert Phipps Jr. and Patrolman Lionel E. Issa, were celebrated.
Senate Majority Leader Sen. Kenneth L. Gittens says that vetoes of legislation passed to help address the ongoing crisis at the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority are not productive.
“The GAO report recommends that the OMB develop a coordinated, government-wide strategy to involve the territories in federal statistical outputs and address these data gaps effectively.”
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has given a grant to the Virgin Islands Energy Office that will enable low-income and disadvantaged households to benefit from solar power.
Senator-At-Large Angel L. Bolques attended SeaTrade24 and expresses the importance of Maritime Scholarship Bill 35-0133: A New Era for Virgin Islanders in the Maritime Industry.
Senator-At-Large Angel Bolques Jr. is exploring the Eaton Arecibo Micro Grid in Puerto Rico, networking and paving the way for clean energy solutions in the Virgin Islands.