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February 28, 2008
GOVERNOR MEETS WITH KEY CONGRESSIONAL SUPPORTERS Governor John P. deJongh Jr. returns to the territory Thursday having completed a two-day visit in Washington, D.C., which was headlined by meetings with key Senate and House supporters of the Virgin Islands. DeJongh was joined by Delegate Donna Christensen, and senior Government House officials. The deJongh-led delegation met with U.S. Senators Sam Brownback (R-KS), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Evan Bayh (R-IND), Jim DeMint (R-SC), Bill Nelson (D-FL), and the House Ways and Means Committee Chairman, Representative Charles Rangel (D-NY). On Tuesday evening, deJongh met with Senators Jay Rockefeller and Orrin Hatch during the 2008 Alexander Hamilton Awards program. The key topics included building congressional support for U.S. Virgin Islands efforts to reduce the cost of energy, improving transportation infrastructure including roads and ferry boats, extending the Rum Tax, Medicare, children’s health insurance, border patrol, homeland security, statute of limitation, and improving Virgin Islands access to federal agriculture programs. Discussions also focused on the need to expand Virgin Islands participation in regional trade organizations, including observer-status in Caricom and the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States, OECS. The Governor noted, "These Senators are keenly aware about the key issues affecting the Virgin Islands and the region. Their support is a tremendous asset in our ongoing discussions with Federal departments and agencies, including the Departments of the Treasury, State, Agriculture and Interior." DeJongh said, "We were able to consolidate key relationships with a broad-based, bipartisan group of Senators, who are in agreement about our economic development needs and strategic importance to the United States. The upcoming appropriations process will also provide opportunities, working with the Delegate to Congress, to increase the level of federal dollars coming into the Territory." During his meeting with Representative Rangel, deJongh expressed his appreciation for Rangel’s support of the Virgin Islands Economic Development Program and language clarifying statute of limitations protections for Virgin Islands. "While we continue to pursue legislative and other remedies to our remaining statute of limitations issues, Virgin Islanders are grateful to Representative Rangel for his efforts on our behalf over the years, and his commitment to continue to fight for our rights as citizens," deJongh said. |
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