Extending Virgin Islands of the United States Centennial Commission Act

Floor Speech

Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak on my bill, H.R. 4446, to extend the Virgin Islands Centennial Commission.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Gowdy and Ranking Member Cummings, House leadership, and staff for their work to bring this bill to the House floor.

The Virgin Islands of the United States Centennial Commission Act was signed into law in 2016 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Virgin Islands of the United States becoming an unincorporated territory of the United States and to facilitate discussions and events on its relations with the territory.

Since its creation, the Commission has seen the appointments of Senators Lisa Murkowski, Bill Nelson, and Marco Rubio, Representatives Tom MacArthur and Mia Love, and Assistant Secretary for Insular Areas Douglas Domenech.

The Commission expires September 30, 2018, without the extension of such time.

The Commission has been formed to plan, develop, and carry out such activities as the Commission considers fitting and proper to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Virgin Islands of the United States becoming part of the United States. The Commission also will provide advice and assistance to the Federal, State, and local governmental agencies, as well as civic groups, to carry out activities to commemorate this milestone in the movement of the Virgin Islands in its relationship with the United States.

Passage of this bill would allow the Commission additional time to accomplish its mission to study specific issues related to the Virgin Islands of the United States by extending the final report termination deadlines by a year to January 31, 2019, and September 30, 2019, respectively.

In June, the Centennial Commission met and selected a chair and interim executive director. We are currently in the process of collaborating with the National Museum of African American History and Culture on public programs as well as hearings here and in the Virgin Islands. The Commission is also in the process of engaging stakeholders to become involved in developing future projects to meet its goals and objectives.

Last September, as we all know, the Virgin Islands faced catastrophic damage from two unprecedented back-to-back Category 5 hurricanes. The recovering American citizens residing on the islands would benefit greatly from continued congressional recognition, as well as the work of the Commission not only in commemorating our past, but, more importantly, talking about our future and our continued relationship with the country.

This Commission has received national and international support, and an extended lifespan of the Commission would allow it to better benefit from this support and further examine the often inadequate relationship between the territory and the rest of the United States.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4446, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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