Virgin Islands Economy (Cong. Rec., May 19, 2021)
Summary
This is H2556 of the Congressional Record, House, May 19, 2021, with interleaved columns of five-minute speeches. A Louisiana Member says the State's Governor has made a formal request for supplemental disaster funding and that the President must formally request specific supplemental disaster relief from Congress. Under the heading Virgin Islands Economy, the delegate discusses the St. Croix refinery, saying the EPA ordered Limetree Bay on May 14 to pause operations because of an imminent risk to public health. Another speaker describes the President's plan for infrastructure and clean energy jobs, and Mr. Thompson is recognized under the heading Military Appreciation Month, with the views attributed to the speakers.
Summary drafted by a model from the document's text below and checked by script against that text before publication. It is a navigation aid, not a reading of what the document proves. Where AI is used
Cite this document
“Virgin Islands Economy (Cong. Rec., May 19, 2021).”
Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2021-05-19-crec-2021-05-19-pt1-pgh2556-ff6ed1a9f9/
, SHA-256 5560558a4fda11f1aa3d9e2a99e0cf2a0eaf3070c04e85dff5c582bd18d37a1c.Full text
H2556 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE May 19, 2021
recovery resources, primarily through came the second-largest petroleum re- million homes and commercial build-
community block grant funding. finery in America. In 2012, the refinery ings; modernize our Nation’s schools
Louisiana’s Governor issued a formal closed, exacerbating the shocks of the and childcare facilities; upgrade vet-
request to the Biden administration in Great Recession, leading to unemploy- erans’ hospitals and Federal buildings.
January of this year. My office has ment rates of 18 percent. Our govern- The President’s plan includes $20 bil-
supported our Governor’s request in ment made the decision to work to lion for new programs that will recon-
every way through every channel. We bring the refinery back and, after sev- nect neighborhoods like the Virgin Is-
worked for months to build support in eral years, the terminal and refinery lands, cut off by historic investments,
Congress for long-term recovery re- reopened. and ensure new projects increase op-
sources, and our efforts to build that In the last few weeks, my office has portunity, advance racial equity and
coalition has been successful. been in contact with the EPA regard- environmental justice, promote afford-
While that support exists broadly, ing air emissions incidents, odors, and able access, safeguard critical infra-
the Biden administration must first re- emissions around the vicinity of the re- structure and services, and defend vul-
spond to our Governor’s official request finery, which threaten the health of nerable communities.
for supplemental disaster funding. residents and our environment. President Biden will call upon Con-
President Biden must formally request On May 14, the EPA ordered gress, our body, to ensure that new jobs
specific supplemental disaster relief Limetree Bay, the owners of the ter- create clean energy, and manufac-
from Congress. Only then can our minal and refinery, to pause all oper- turing and infrastructure are open and
brotherhood of support take action ations on the St. Croix refinery due to accessible to women and people of
here in the House of Representatives. multiple improperly conducted oper- color. The House is working on this.
That is the way it works. We have com- ations that present an imminent risk We have a historic package to build
municated these extreme needs di- to public health. Limetree Bay is in a back better, creating jobs and justice.
rectly to the Biden administration and community that is disproportionately f
House leadership. affected by environmental burdens, and MILITARY APPRECIATION MONTH
Additionally, the State must do more recent incidents have raised significant
to ensure private insurance companies environmental justice concerns. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The
are treating Louisiana citizens fairly. My office has continued to discuss Chair recognizes the gentleman from
This has been a significant issue that with the EPA regarding the shutdown Pennsylvania (Mr. THOMPSON) for 5
has frustrated Louisiana citizens and of the refinery, which, when fully oper- minutes.
hindered our recovery efforts. ational, contributes tremendously to Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania.
I will not stop fighting for the citi- the Virgin Islands’ economy. I have Madam Speaker, I rise today to thank
zens of south Louisiana, and I ask that also been in contact with the owners of our men and women in uniform and re-
my colleagues here in this body stand the refinery, as well as the Virgin Is- member those who gave their life for
with us. I ask that our President stand lands local government, and I will this country.
The month of May is recognized as
with the people of Louisiana. We are share with you all, with this Congress,
Military Appreciation Month, and we
one Nation. As a Republic of sovereign what we can do to rectify the issue.
But part of my concern and one of have several days dedicated to hon-
States, we have never failed to come to
the reasons I came to Congress was to oring our servicemen and -women, as
each other’s rescue in the wake of nat-
create mechanisms and funding, incen- well as their families.
ural disaster. Now is one of those mo- May 7 is Military Spouse Apprecia-
ments. tives so that communities like the Vir-
tion Day. May 8 is Victory in Europe
This is a time when Americans must gin Islands, places long-neglected, can
Day, marking the end of World War II
stand together as one. Every day, we have the tools, funding, incentives, sta-
in Europe. May 15 is Armed Services
are working to help Louisiana stand ble schools, healthcare, to create di-
Day, where we thank Active Duty
back up. verse sustainable industry.
As I have said in the past, and con- members from all branches of the mili-
f tary.
tinue to reiterate, the current prob-
VIRGIN ISLANDS ECONOMY lems in my community further dem- b 1130
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The onstrate the need for so many commu- But on the last day of May, we have
Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from nities like it to have a diversified econ- our most solemn occasion, Memorial
the Virgin Islands (Ms. PLASKETT) for 5 omy. This would provide flexibility. A Day, where we mourn those whom we
minutes. diversified economy creates an eco- lost in defense of this Nation.
Ms. PLASKETT. Madam Speaker, nomic health in a community, not tied The tradition of Memorial Day dates
the Virgin Islands of the United States to a single industry or market sector. back to 1864 in Boalsburg, Pennsyl-
sits at the most southern, most eas- It also creates and supports innova- vania. Three ladies decorated the
terly point of the United States. Be- tion. graves of fallen Civil War soldiers, and
cause of this geographic position and Not only do companies support one the custom has continued every year
its proximity to South America and its another financially, but they engender since then. Boalsburg still puts on a
almost sentry lighthouse position to an ecosystem of new ideas and product traditional Memorial Day celebration,
the rest of the Caribbean, it has been generation. I recognize that funding complete with a parade, a community
fought over; exploited by many na- from the American Rescue Plan should walk to the cemetery, speeches, mili-
tions; owned by seven; and used as a not only be used by the Virgin Island’s tary reenactments, and much more.
base by pirates, privateers, rum and government to undergird our most vul- In the days leading up to Memorial
drug runners, and even great corpora- nerable citizens, our children, mentally Day, many place flags or lay wreaths
tions. ill, our seniors; it should be used to at the graves of our soldiers. We gather
Despite so much potential, the bene- support creation of clean resilient jobs. with friends and family to attend pa-
fits of our location, climate, our deep I and other Democrats recognize that rades and special services to remember
ports—one of the deepest in the Carib- we must rebuild our communities and those lost.
bean, our fertile soil—the people of the our economy better than before As we take the time to thank our Ac-
Virgin Islands have not received equi- through the American Jobs Plan. Now tive Duty members and remember the
table return on investment and have is the time to think boldly with a once- fallen, we must also never forget the
instead been the spoils of others. in-a-century investment to create mil- soldiers who have not returned home.
Our people continue to work to cre- lions of good-paying jobs to ensure As the father of a wounded warrior, I
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with HOUSE
ate economic benefits for our homes, America can outcompete any other thank God every day he returned home
jobs, skills, revenue, financial inde- country in the world. safely. Not every family has been as
pendence. Our journey in oil refining is The President has promised to de- lucky, and we owe our greatest efforts
one such chapter in that search. liver clean drinking water, a renewed to recovering the brave men and
In the 1960s, the Virgin Islands began electric grid, high-speed broadband; women who made the ultimate sac-
refining oil. Our island of St. Croix be- build, preserve, retrofit more than 2 rifice for our country.
VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:56 May 20, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K19MY7.018 H19MYPT1
File and source
- File
- CREC_crec-2021-05-19_crec-2021-05-19-pt1-pgh2556.pdf
- Size
- 211,552 bytes
- SHA-256
- 5560558a4fda11f1aa3d9e2a99e0cf2a0eaf3070c04e85dff5c582bd18d37a1c
- Original
- www.govinfo.gov