Rebuilding Efforts in the U.S. Virgin Islands

Floor Speech

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Ms. PLASKETT. Mr. Speaker, the rebuilding efforts of the U.S. Virgin Islands will require an extraordinary level of coordination and cooperation between the local government and the Federal Government. We have, in this moment, both the opportunity and the responsibility to ensure that the greatest good emerges from the calamity to our Virgin Islands.

Yesterday, HUD awarded $1.6 billion to help the Virgin Islands to recover after the hurricanes. These recovery funds awarded were provided through HUD's Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery Program and are a part of the hard-fought battle here in Congress to appropriate funding, specifically to the territories.

The Virgin Islands normally receives a mere $1 million from this fund. This crucial funding will help us to address the disaster-related deficiencies in housing, public service, and infrastructure as determined by local officials with citizen input.

I am imploring our local government to engage the community and have strategic plans in this. Building more resilient infrastructure in the Virgin Islands is critical to future economic stability. We must rebuild the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico the right way.

Our children are presently in schools in the Virgin Islands 4 hours per day as they share space because of the tremendous loss of infrastructure. The negligence leading to inadequate care and oversight of our loved ones is unacceptable. The stress of hurricanes does not need to be exacerbated by inefficient evacuation protocols and lack of transparency.

Mr. Speaker, I urge Congress and others to do what is necessary, to support the Virgin Islands and others in rebuilding.

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