>>> GOOD DAY AND WELCOME TO "LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS: MEET THE CANDIDATES" FOR HIM.

A PROGRAM PRODUCED IN COLLABORATION WITH WTJX TV FOR WELL OVER 35 YEARS.

IT IS OUR HOPE THAT THROUGH THESE PROGRAMS, YOU, THE VOTING PUBLIC, WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN ABOUT THE CANDIDATES FOR ELECTED OFFICE.

WE INVITE YOU TO LOOK AT ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS FOR THE 2024 WITH CANDIDATES SEEKING OFFICE AS A SENATOR IN THE 36th LEGISLATOR, OR AS A DELEGATE FOR THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.

FOR THE FIRST TIME, WE ARE ALSO INTERVIEWING CANDIDATES FOR THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, AND ELECTION.

ALTHOUGH ALL THE CANDIDATES FOR THESE POSITIONS WERE INVITED, NOT ALL RESPONDED, OR ACCEPTED THE INVITATION.

WE ARE DELIGHTED TO HAVE YOUR TODAY THREE CANDIDATES WHO CAME TO BE OUR DELEGATE IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 119th CONGRESS.

I HAVE DR. GUINN-MARIE MOOLENAAR, PRESIDENT OF THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS, VIRGIN ISLANDS.

AND ALSO WITH ME TODAY IS LAVERNE RAGSTER, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE LEAGUE.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

OUR TIMER TODAY IS BOARD MEMBER MISS.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE FUNCTION.

>> THANK YOU, I AM PLEASED TO BE HERE FOR THIS FORUM DR. MOOLENAAR.

THE CANDIDATES HAVE BEEN INFORMED OF THE EVENTS AND THE GUIDELINES FOR THE PROGRAM.

NO CANDIDATE HAS ACCESS TO THE QUESTIONS IN ADVANCE.

THE FIRST RESPONDER TO EACH QUESTION WILL BE ROTATED AMONG THE PARTICIPANTS.

TIMING FOR THE RESPONSE TO EACH QUESTION WILL BE ANNOUNCED IN ADVANCE.

ANY COMMENT DIRECTED SPECIFICALLY AT A PARTICIPANT BY ANOTHER PARTICIPANT WILL BE FOLLOWED BY A REBUTTAL OF 60 SECONDS.

ALL ARE EXPECTED TO BE RESPECTFUL TO EVERYONE ELSE.

>> TO BEGIN, I ASKED EACH CANDIDATE TO SIMPLY IDENTIFY WHO THEY ARE AND TO STATE THEIR POLITICAL AFFILIATION AND VALID NUMBER.

WE WILL LEARN MORE ABOUT EACH OF OUR CANDIDATES AS OUR DISCUSSION RESUMES.

PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME, VALID NUMBER AND POLITICAL AFFILIATION.

>> GOOD DAY, I AM IDA SMITH, INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE NUMBER THREE ON THE BALLOT FOR THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

>> THANK YOU.

>> GOOD DAY, ST. CROIX, ST. THOMAS, ST. JOHN, MY NAME IS RONALD PICKARD, I AM RUNNING FOR THE DELICATE POSITION OF CONGRESS.

>> TODAY, I AM SUSIE PLASKETT, THE DEMOCRATIC PLANET CANDIDATE FOR THE OFFICE OF DELEGATE TO CONGRESS FOR THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

I AM NUMBER 2 ON THE BALLOT.

>> THANK YOU, THANK YOU ALL.

NOW, LET´S BEGIN WITH OUR DISCUSSION.

I WILL ASK OUR FIRST RESPONDER TO RESPOND TO THIS.

WHAT IN YOUR BACKGROUND, MS. SMITH, DEEPLY PREPARES YOU FOR THIS POSITION, AND STATE WHAT YOU HAVE ACCOMPLISHED IN THE PAST THREE TO FOUR YEARS THAT DEMONSTRATE THAT YOU CAN BE SUCCESSFUL AS OUR CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVE, FOR YOUR BACKGROUND AND YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS, AND YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES TO DISCUSS THAT.

>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION DR. MOOLENAAR.

IN MY BACKGROUND, I HAVE HAD 20 PLUS YEARS OF RESEARCH, SPECIFICALLY WITH THE VIRGIN ISLANDS, TRAVELING TO STUDY AT THE ARCHIVES IN DENMARK, THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES, RECORDS ADMINISTRATION IN COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND, WASHINGTON, D.C., THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS.

I HAVE PUT TOGETHER A PETITION FOR MANDAMUS IN REGARDS TO JUDICIAL ENFORCEMENT OF TREATY 2639, 17.06, THE BEGINNING, THE CONTRACT WHICH DENMARK AND THE UNITED STATES HAD IN THE YEAR 1916, AND IT IS ALSO APPLICABLE TO US PRESENTLY.

IT IS OUR FIRST VIRGIN ISLANDS CODE OF 1956.

SO, I HAVE ACCOMPLISHED THAT, AND I HAVE ALSO DONE RESEARCH TO MAKE SURE THAT THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE DOES NOT ENCROACH ON OUR BOUNDARIES.

WE HAVE SOMETHING CALLED AN OFFICIAL ORIGINAL GOVERNMENT SURVEY WHICH WAS REMOVED FROM THE RECORD IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS AND UNDER THE LAW, THE LAND ACT OF FEBRUARY 11th, 1805, IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE ON RECORD AT ALL TIMES AT THE CADASTRAL´S OFFICE, AND THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR´S OFFICE.

I HAVE INSURED THAT UPDATED LAND PATENTS HAVE HAPPENED FOR MY FAMILIES AND ASSIST OTHERS THAT ARE IN NEED OF THAT WHENEVER THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE SAYS, IT HAS TENTATIVE BOUNDARY LINES, VERSUS BEING MANAGERS OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS.

THEY ARE CLAIMING TO OWN OUR PROPERTY HERE IN THESE ISLANDS.

THE TREATY, AS WELL AS THE FEDERAL LAWS, PROTECT US AGAINST THAT.

THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.

>> THANK YOU.

MR. PICKARD, VARIES IN QUESTION.

WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO REPEAT IT?

WHAT IN YOUR BACKGROUND DID YOU BELIEVE PREPARES YOU FOR THIS POSITION, AND STATE WHAT YOU HAVE ACCOMPLISHED IN THE PAST THREE TO FOUR YEARS THAT DEMONSTRATE THAT YOU CAN BE SUCCESSFUL AS OUR CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVE.

SO, YOUR BACKGROUND AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS, TWO MINUTES.

>> AS YOU GUYS KNOW, MY NAME IS RONALD PICKARD, I AM FROM RIGHT HERE IN THE UNITED STATES, VIRGIN ISLANDS, PARTICULARLY ST. CROIX.

MY BACKGROUND IS OFFICER AND I HAVE HAD THE EXPERIENCE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER REGARDING SEVERAL TOPICS PERTAINING TO THE STRUGGLE WE FACE HERE IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS.

I AM AN ACTIVIST.

I´VE BEEN AN ACTIVIST FOR SO MANY YEARS.

I WAS THERE WITH THE TEACHERS WHEN THEY STRIKE, THE UNION STEELWORKERS OF AMERICA, THE NURSES, VERY IMPERATIVE, VERY IMPORTANT.

I HAVE BEEN THERE AS IT PERTAINS TO EVERYTHING THAT HAS BEEN GOING DOWNHILL AS IT PERTAINS TO TERRITORY.

I UNDERSTAND THE STRUGGLE, I UNDERSTAND THE FIGHT.

I AM A PART OF THE FIGHT ITSELF AND I´M HERE TO MAKE SURE I USE ALL OF MY EXPERIENCE, ALL OF MY SKILLS ALL OF MY KNOWLEDGE TO TAKE IT WITH ME IN CONGRESS.

I ACTUALLY TALK TO MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.

I´VE ACTUALLY EXPLAINED TO THEM EXACTLY WHAT IS TAKING PLACE DOWN HERE IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS.

THEY HAPPEN TO KNOW THE STRUGGLE WE ARE GOING THROUGH.

BEING 123 YEARS WE ARE STILL ON INSULIN RESTRICTIONS AND NOT ONE RESTRICTION HAS EVER BEEN LIFTED.

SOMEBODY THINGS OUR CONFERENCE NEEDS TO KNOW ABOUT WHAT IS TAKING PLACE HERE IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS, BUT YOU NEED THE RIGHT REPRESENTATIVE TO GO OUT THERE AND EXPLAIN TO THEM WHAT IS TAKING PLACE.

MOST IMPORTANTLY, YOU HAVE GOT TO BE BIPARTISAN.

I HAVE BEEN BIPARTISAN ALL THE DAYS OF MY LIFE.

I´M FRIENDS WITH DEMOCRATIC PARTY, REPUBLICAN PARTY, AS WELL AS INDEPENDENT.

YOU WILL NEED THAT FRIENDSHIP AND RELATIONSHIP TO ESTABLISH GOOD JUDGMENTS ABOUT YOURSELF.

I DO GO BEFORE CONGRESS AND BIPARTISAN, A PARTISAN MEMBER OF CONGRESS, REPRESENTING THE VIRGIN ISLANDS, A MUCH MORE SMOOTHER, MUCH MORE UNDERSTANDABLE, MUCH EASIER TO GET THINGS DONE.

MY NAME IS RONALD PICKARD.

>> THANK YOU.

SO, MS. PLASKETT, YOU ARE OUR INCUMBENT.

THE VOTERS KNOW YOU.

CAN YOU BRIEFLY REFER TO YOUR BACKGROUND AND TELL US WHAT YOU HAVE ACCOMPLISHED OVER THE LAST TENURE AS OUR CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVE.

>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.

I THINK IT IS FIRST IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT I HAVE BEEN A PUBLIC SERVANT MY ENTIRE LIFE.

AFTER COMING OUT OF COLLEGE, I WORKED AS A STAFFER ON THE HEEL FOR BOTH THE REPUBLICAN MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, AS WELL AS FOR DEMOCRATS.

AFTER LAW SCHOOL, I WAS A PROSECUTOR, WORKING ON STREET CRIMES, NARCOTICS, ALSO WORKING TO SUPPORT VICTIMS OF CRIME.

COMING ONTO THE VIRGIN ISLANDS, I´VE WORKED TIRELESSLY IN MANY SINCE BEING ELECTED TO BEING THE REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE VIRGIN ISLANDS IN CONGRESS, WHICH HAS BEEN THE MOST INCREDIBLE HONOR TO ME, I HAVE WORKED TO ALSO NOT JUST ENSURE THAT LAWS WERE PASSED, THAT WOULD SUPPORT THE VIRGIN ISLANDS, HAVING OVER 100 PROVISIONS THAT I INITIATED THAT ARE NOW LAW.

ALSO, ENSURING THAT WE HAVE ALSO MOVEMENT TOWARD SELF- DETERMINATION.

IN THE PAST YEAR, I READ A BIPARTISAN LETTER TO THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ABOUT THE INCIDENT CASES, AND FROM THAT LETTER, THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE HAS RECENTLY ISSUED A NOTICE TO ALL OF THEIR OFFICES THAT THEY WOULD NO LONGER RELY ON THE CASES, WHICH WE KNOW HAS BEEN EVIDENT TO THE PEOPLE OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS.

I HAVE WORKED IN BOTH REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATIC ADMINISTRATIONS TO ENSURE THAT THE VIRGIN ISLANDS HAS THE RESOURCES THAT ARE NOT AVAILABLE TO US, AND BILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO REBUILD OUR TERRITORY TO REDEFINE WHO WE ARE, TO SEE THE PLACE WHERE OUR CHILDREN CAN COME BACK HOME TO ME AND THERE ARE PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL.

IT HAS BEEN MY GREATEST HONOR TO REPRESENT THE PEOPLE OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS.

THERE IS SO MUCH MORE I WANT TO TALK ABOUT LATER IN THE SHOW.

>> GREAT.

THANK YOU.

EVERYONE IS KEEPING IN THE TIMEFRAME THAT IS GREAT.

A SECOND QUESTION FOR ALL OF YOU WILL REQUIRE A 90 SECOND RESPONSE, A MINUTE AND A HALF.

SO, I BEGIN WITH MR. PICKARD, YOU WILL BE THE FIRST RESPONDER FOR THIS QUESTION.

THIS IS ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP OF THE DELEGATE WITH THE SITTING GOVERNOR.

IT IS AN IMPORTANT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE SITTING GOVERNOR AND THE REPRESENTATIVE.

WHAT CHALLENGES OR OPPORTUNITIES, MR. PICKARD, DO YOU SEE FOR YOURSELF AS A DELEGATE, WHO MIGHT BE OF THE DIFFERENT POLITICAL PARTIES MIGHT BE THE SAME AS GOVERNOR.

HOW WOULD YOU MANAGE THE ASSOCIATED CHALLENGES OR OPPORTUNITIES IN THAT SETTING.

>> FIRST OF ALL, BEING A MEMBER OF A PARTICULAR PARTY SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN AN ISSUE AS IT PERTAINS TO THE PEOPLE OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS.

THAT IS BEEN A PROBLEM ALL THE DAYS OF OUR LIVES.

MY GOAL IS TO WORK WITH THE PRESENT GOVERNOR TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET BILLS PASSED.

WHAT IS DISTURBING TO ME, AS A VIRGIN ISLANDS OR, AS I´VE NOTICED CONGRESS HAS BEEN ALMOST 10 YEARS AND ONLY ONE BILL HAS EVER BEEN PASSED IN 10 YEARS.

THAT IS VERY DISTURBING.

IT MAKES ME WONDER EXACTLY WHAT THE RELATIONSHIP OUR INCUMBENT HAS WITH THE GOVERNOR.

I FEEL THAT THE GOVERNOR, THE LEGISLATOR, THE SENATE, WE SHOULD ALL KNOW ONE THING FOR SURE, WE MUST COME TOGETHER TO FIND A COMMON TO THE COMMON PROBLEM WE HAVE.

I HAVE HIGH CONFIDENCE MYSELF IN THE GOVERNOR WILL WORK TOGETHER TO ATTACK SOME OF THE INSULAR CASES AS IT PERTAINS TO WHAT IS TAKING PLACE IN CONGRESS.

I FEEL LIKE WE CAN WORK TOGETHER AS IT PERTAINS TO ME INTRODUCING BILLS THAT ARE BENEFICIAL TO THE PEOPLE OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS.

A LOT OF THE BILLS I INTRODUCED HAVE TO DO WITH THE SITUATION AFFECTING US RIGHT NOW, THE INFRASTRUCTURE.

WE HAVE AN ENERGY CRISIS.

WE NEVER HAD AFFORDABLE ENERGY, WE NEVER HAD RELIABLE ENERGY.

THE SITUATION WITH THE SCHOOLS, THE CHILDREN.

NEW SCHOOLS NEED TO BE BUILT, NOT RENOVATED.

THESE ARE THINGS THE GOVERNOR I AM SURE WILL ALSO AGREE WITH ME AS WELL.

IT IS GOOD TO SEE THAT HE AND I CAN ACTUALLY SEE EYE TO EYE FOR THE PROBLEMS AFFECTING US HERE IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS.

>> THANK YOU.

WE WILL PUT THE QUESTION TO YOU AND WE WILL ADD ON 60 SECONDS THAT YOU CAN INCLUDE.

AS THE SECOND RESPONDER, YOU CAN RESPOND AND ALSO INCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL 60 SECONDS FOR REBUTTAL.

>> THANK YOU FOR THAT OPPORTUNITY.

FIRST, I HAVE PASSED WAY MORE PIECES OF LEGISLATION THAN ONE LEGISLATION, ONE BILL IN THE 10 YEARS I HAVE BEEN IN CONGRESS.

I HAVE, AND YOU CAN GO TO MY WEBSITE AND SEE THAT THERE ARE OVER 100 PROVISIONS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE INTO LAW.

THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN DONE AS DISTINCT, INDIVIDUAL PIECES OF LEGISLATION, WHETHER IT IS REMOVING THE FEDERAL CAP ON OUR FEDERAL HIGHWAYS SO THAT WE CAN HAVE ADDITIONAL MONEY IN OUR FEDERAL HIGHWAYS FROM 17 TO $40 MILLION ANNUALLY, TO THE OF ST. CROIX AS THE NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA, WORKING IN A BIPARTISAN MANNER WITH MY COLLEAGUES FROM PENNSYLVANIA TO ENSURE THAT THAT LEGISLATION WAS PASSED.

ADDITIONALLY, FOR THE $25 MILLION THAT IS NOW GONE INTO THE SECOND PHASE OF THE WATERFRONT REVITALIZATION IN CHARLOTTE AND MARLEY.

THERE ARE OVER 100 POSITIONS PROVISIONS I HAVE DONE AND THAT IS SIMPLY UNDERSTANDING HOW IN MANY INSTANCES, CONGRESS HAS BILLS, AND WHAT HAPPENS, THERE ARE MUST-PASS LEGISLATION, WHICH ARE ON THOSE BILLS, THE NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION, AND MEMBERS OF CONGRESS WILL USE THAT AS AN OPPORTUNITY, KNOWING THAT THOSE BILLS MUST PASS TO PRESENT THEIR DEALS AS AMENDMENTS IN THE RULES COMMITTEE.

THEY ARE DEBATED AND VOTED ON THE FLOOR, AND THEN THEY ARE ADDED TO OTHER PIECES OF LEGISLATION, WHICH WE KNOW MUST PASS IN THE HOUSE AND IN THE SENATE, AND ARE MADE INTO LAW.

TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT, YOU HAVE TO WORK IN A BIPARTISAN MANNER.

I HAVE OVER 40 PIECES OF LEGISLATION CURRENTLY, WHICH I AM THE PRIMARY SPONSOR AND HAVE A REPUBLICAN COSPONSOR, OR REPUBLICAN BILLS FOR WHICH I COSPONSORED LEGISLATION WITH THEM.

I HAVE ALSO WORKED TIRELESSLY WITH RESPECT TO BRINGING RESOURCES TO THE GOVERNMENT OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS.

IN 2018, UNDER THE BIPARTISAN BUDGET ACT IT WAS MY WORK THAT ENSURED THAT THE VIRGIN ISLANDS´ GOVERNMENT WOULD BE ABLE TO REBUILD, NOT AS THINGS WERE AT THE TIME OF THE STORM, BUT AS THINGS SHOULD BE.

THAT HAS INCREASED OUR MONEY THAT IS AVAILABLE FOR REBUILDING FROM NOT JUST $1 BILLION, TO OVER $15 BILLION.

IN SOME INSTANCES, FRUSTRATING IS PEOPLE NOT UNDERSTANDING THE DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD.

THE MEMBER OF CONGRESS IS THE INDIVIDUAL WHO SENT THE RESOURCES TO THE VIRGIN ISLANDS.

IT IS THE GOVERNOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS WHO ACTUALLY MANAGES AND SPENDS THE MONEY.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT RESPONSE.

EXCUSE ME, SINCE YOU WERE THE ONE THAT RAISED IT, THEN YOU HAVE NOW 60 SECONDS FOR THAT.

>> SO I DID GO TO HER PAGE, SHE HAS INTRODUCED 114 BILLS, ONLY ONE BILL WAS PASSED.

IN 2016, IT WAS PASSED BY THE WHAT THE INCUMBENT IS TRYING TO TELL THE PEOPLE OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS IS THAT SHE HAS PASSED BILL IN THE HOUSE, BUT IN CONGRESS, YOU MUST PASS THE HOUSE AS WELL AS THE SENATE AND THESE BILLS MUST BE SIGNED BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

THERE IS ONLY ONE PERSON, I VISITED HER PAGE, SHE IS PROVIDING THE ONE WRONG INFORMATION.

ONLY ONE BILL IN 10 YEARS THAT HAS EVER BEEN PASSED.

THAT IS FACTS.

>> 60 SECONDS.

>> THANK YOU, THAT IS NOT A FACT.

IF YOU WOULD GO TO MY WEBSITE, YOU WILL SEE THAT THERE IS IN FACT LEGISLATION WHICH HAS BEEN PASSED.

I KNOW I MAY BE DATING MYSELF, BUT I WANTED EVERYBODY TO THINK ABOUT SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK, HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW.

UNLESS A BILL DOES HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE HOUSE, AND ALSO HAS TO GO TO THE SENATE.

THIS IS WHERE EXPERIENCE COMES INTO PLAY.

THIS IS WHERE UNDERSTANDING HOW CONGRESS WORKS, AND MANY MEMBERS OF USE THEIR LEGISLATION, KNOWING THAT BILLS TAKE MUCH TIME TO PASS BY PATCHING THEM TO LEGISLATION, WHICH WE NOW HAS TO GET THROUGH BOTH THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE, AND SIGNED BY THE PRESIDENT.

IF THAT WERE THE CASE, I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HAVE ST. CROIX NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA MADE.

I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PROVISIONS TO REMOVE THE CAP ON OUR FEDERAL HIGHWAYS.

I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ALLOW OUR MEDICAID FROM 5% TO 83%, THAT WAS DONE IN BOTH REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATIC-- >> THANK YOU.

WE HAVE ALREADY, WE WILL MOVE ON MRS. SMITH, YOU HAVE YOUR CHOICE, YOUR RESPONSE NOW, AND AGAIN 90 SECONDS.

>> THANK YOU.

THE QUESTION IS, HOW WOULD I BUILD A RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS PRESENT GOVERNOR, AND WHAT CHALLENGES, OR OPPORTUNITIES WOULD BE THERE?

AS A FRESHMAN TO THIS WHOLE POLITICAL SCENE, I PUT THE PEOPLE OVER THE POLITICS, AND I WOULD DEFINITELY, AS THE INCUMBENT SAID, GET THE FUNDS TO THE VIRGIN ISLANDS AND UTILIZE THEM WHERE THEY BELONG, WISELY.

FOR EXAMPLE, THE EDUCATION MONEY THAT CAME IN AND SOME OF IT WENT BACK.

I WOULD HAVE MADE SURE, WITH THE GOVERNOR AND THE SITTING SENATOR, THAT THOSE MONIES WERE APPLIED WHERE THEY SHOULD BE, WHERE WE SHOULD NOT HAVE SCHOOLS WITH MOLD AND.

WE SHOULD HAVE AIR CONDITIONERS VERSUS FANS.

AND AFTER SPEAKING WITH THE CITIZENS, THE PEOPLE OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS IN ALL THREE ISLANDS, I FOUND OUT THAT THEY NEED INFRASTRUCTURE.

THEY NEED BUSES.

THEY NEED A FERRY TO GO FROM ST. CROIX TO ST. THOMAS, VERSUS THE EXPENSE OF FLYING.

I WOULD ALSO MAKE SURE THAT THE GOVERNOR AND I HAVE A RELATIONSHIP TO WHERE WE CAN COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY, WHEREBY THE MONIES THAT COME USED, AND NEVER TO RETURN TO WASHINGTON, D.C. WE NEED THE MONEY.

IF IT CAME IN, WE ARE GOING TO USE IT WISELY.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

SO, LET´S TAKE THAT SAME SCENARIO TO CONGRESS.

WHAT WOULD HAPPEN, AND OUR FIRST RESPONDER HERE IS GOING TO BE MISSED PLASKETT.

WHAT CHALLENGES OR OPPORTUNITIES HAVE YOU EXPERIENCED AS A CONGRESSPERSON OF APRIL 2 PARTICULAR POLITICAL PARTY, THAT IS DIFFERENT THAN THAT OF THE CONGRESSIONAL MAJORITY, AND HOW HAVE YOU RESPONDED TO THOSE CHALLENGES, AND YOU WILL HAVE 90 SECONDS.

>> THANK YOU.

THIS HAS BEEN THE 118th CONGRESS HAS BEEN A VERY FRUSTRATING CONGRESS FOR BOTH DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS.

I TALK TO MIKE REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES, WHO ALSO ARE CONCERNED AT THE LACK OF LEGISLATION THAT HAS BEEN PASSED IN THIS CONGRESS.

MOST CONGRESSES HAVE APPROXIMATELY 400 LAWS THAT ARE PASSED IN A YEAR.

THIS CONGRESS HAS HAD LESS THEN 100.

WE ARE STILL UNDER A CONTINUING RESOLUTION, WHICH MEANS, WE DON´T HAVE A BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR, WHICH WOULD NORMALLY HAVE BEEN DONE IN THE SPRING, PRIOR TO THE FOLLOWING YEAR, WHERE THE BUDGET WOULD EXHAUST ITSELF IN SEPTEMBER.

AND SO, WORKING ACROSS THE AISLE WITH OTHER MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, AS WELL AS MY OWN MAMA WE HAVE TRIED TO WORK ON THOSE PIECES OF LEGISLATION THAT WE KNOW WILL PASS.

FOR EXAMPLE, WITH MY GOOD FRIEND JENNIFER GONZALEZ, REPUBLICAN MEMBER FROM PUERTO RICO, IN PRESIDENT BIDEN´S REFLATION INFLATION REDUCTION ACT, WHICH WOULD INCREASE THE ABILITY FOR THE PRIVATE SECTOR DEVELOPERS TO BRING OFFSHORE WIND TO THE VIRGIN ISLANDS.

ALSO, WE HAVE SPENT A LOT OF TIME WORKING WITH THE ADMINISTRATION TO ENSURE THAT THE VIRGIN ISLANDS HAS THE RESOURCES TO BE ABLE TO UTILIZE THE FUNDING THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW.

SUCH AS THE RECENT ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE GOVERNOR THROUGH THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET, THAT WE WOULD BE REMOVING THE COST SHARE THE VIRGIN ISLANDS, HAVING TO PAY 10% TO 2% FOR THOSE MATTERS, THOSE INFRASTRUCTURES THAT WILL BE REBUILT.

>> MRS. SMITH, WHAT CHALLENGES OR OPPORTUNITIES DO YOU SEE FOR YOURSELF AS YOU MANEUVER FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE TERRITORY, WHEN YOU HAVE NO STRONG POLITICAL PARTY SUPPORT IN THE CONGRESS?

>> WELL, I WOULD HOPE THAT THE CHALLENGE THAT I NEED WOULD BE, THAT THE PEOPLE OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS WOULD COME FIRST AND CONGRESS WOULD RECOGNIZE THAT, THAT THIS IS NOT ABOUT POLITICAL AFFILIATION, IT IS ABOUT THE CITIZENS, THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES, BECAUSE WE ARE OF THE UNITED STATES, ACCORDINGLY.

I WOULD TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HOLD THE CONGRESS TO THE RULE OF THE LAW, THAT WE ARE UNINCORPORATED, YET, WE ARE UNDER A TREATY BETWEEN DENMARK AND THE UNITED STATES THAT IS THE SUPREME LAW OF THE LAND.

I WOULD DEFINITELY TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENCOURAGE THEM THAT WE GET THE SAME TREATMENT AS ANY AMERICAN CITIZEN UNDER THE RULE OF LAW.

>> THANK YOU.

AND MR. PICKARD NOW, ALTHOUGH THERE IS A CONGRESSIONAL MAJORITY OF REPUBLICANS NOW, THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT WILL BE THE SAME FOR THE COMING CONGRESS.

THE QUESTION TO YOU IS A GENERAL ONE HOW WOULD YOU MANEUVER IF YOU ARE A DELICATE AND A CONGRESSIONAL CONGRESS THAT IS NOT NECESSARILY THE SAME AS YOUR POLITICAL PARTY?

>> FIRST OF ALL, OUR POSITION AS A DELEGATE OF CONGRESS IS A NONVOTING POSITION.

IT IS ALREADY A HANDICAP.

WE HAVE TO OVERCOME THE HANDICAP BY MOSTLY BEING RESPECTFUL AND HUMBLE TO OUR COLLEAGUES.

I PLAN TO GO THERE WHERE I AM AS A BIPARTISAN.

I WORK WITH THE DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS TO EXPLAIN THE NECESSITY AND EAT AS IT PERTAINS TO THE PEOPLE OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS, AND I HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO BEFORE SUBCOMMITTEES, AND COMMITTEES.

I´VE BEEN ABLE TO TALK TO MY COLLEAGUES, EXPLAIN THE SERIOUSNESS TAKING PLACE IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS.

WE HAVE A MAJOR PROBLEM AS IT PERTAINS TO THE ECONOMY.

THE PRICES OF FOOD IS OUT OF CONTROL.

OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, OUR ENERGY CRISIS.

SO MANY THINGS.

THE SCHOOLS, THE CHILDREN IN SCHOOLS, MOST IMPORTANTLY THE SCHOOLS.

I TALKED TO MY COLLEAGUES AND EXPLAIN HOW IMPERATIVE IT HAS BEEN ALL THESE YEARS ALL OF THESE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS RECEIVED IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS, NOT ONE SCHOOL HAS EVER BEEN REBUILT OR NOT RENOVATED, REBUILT HERE IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS.

THE STUDENTS, HOW MUCH TIME PERTAINS TO EDUCATION.

EVERY TIME WE HAVE OUR ENERGY PROBLEM, THERE IS NO POWER IN THE KIDS LOSE TIME.

NOT TO MENTION, THE MAINTENANCE PROBLEM, THE MOLD IN THE BUILDING OF THE SCHOOL.

I FEEL BY TALKING TO MY COLLEAGUES, MOSTLY DEMOCRATS, AS WELL AS REPUBLICANS, WE CAN COME TOGETHER AND FIND A SOLUTION TO HELP THE PEOPLE OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS ME BUT YOU MUST BE BIPARTISAN.

YOU HAVE TO GO TO CONGRESS AS A HUMBLE INDIVIDUAL.

YOU HAVE TO PUT GOD FIRST.

YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU CAN GET ALONG WITH YOUR COLLEAGUES INSTEAD OF ATTACKING YOUR COLLEAGUES EVERY TIME THERE IS A SESSION.

>> THANK YOU.

VERY QUICKLY, A REBUTTAL.

60 SECONDS.

>> THANK YOU.

I JUST WANTED TO HAVE A POINT OF CLARIFICATION TO THE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY.

OUR POSITION IN CONGRESS IS NOT A NONVOTING POSITION.

IT IS IN FACT A LIMITED VOTING POSITION.

THAT IS SOMETHING MANY PEOPLE HAVE FOUGHT FOR, AND THAT WE NEED TO BE AWARE OF MEMBERS OF CONGRESS ARE ASSIGNED COMMITTEES BASED UPON YOUR PARTY ASSIGNED COMMITTEE, EVEN INDEPENDENCE, MAKE THE DECISION ABOUT WHETHER THEY ARE GOING TO CAUCUS WITH A DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN CAUCUS, BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE TWO PARTIES THAT ASSIGNED COMMITTEES MEMBERS COMMITTEES OF CONGRESS.

AFTER THAT VOTING RIGHT, YOU HAVE FULL VOTING RIGHT ON THE FLOOR, INCLUDING THE WHOLE ON AMENDMENT.

YOU CANNOT SPEAK BEFORE A SUBCOMMITTEE OR SPEAK BEFORE OTHER COMMITTEES WHO ARE NOT A WITNESS.

YOU ARE IN FACT A COLLEAGUE AND CAN BE WAIVED ONTO A COMMITTEE, OR YOU SPEAK IN THE COMMITTEE THAT YOU ARE.

THAT IS WHY IT IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE COLLEAGUES ON BOTH SIDES TO TALK WITH MEMBERS ON THE FLOOR ABOUT THE ISSUES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO US, TO BRING THEM DOWN TO THE VIRGIN ISLANDS, AS I HAVE, SO THEY CAN SEE FIRSTHAND ON THE ISSUE.

>> THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION, MS. PLASKETT.

NOW, LET´S BEGIN TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE OTHER ISSUES.

OUR FIRST RESPONDER HERE WILL BE MS. SMITH.

YOU WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES, YOU WILL EACH HAVE TWO MINUTES FOR THIS.

ONE MAJOR ISSUE THAT IS OF CONCERN IS THAT OF THE RUM COVER OVER.

FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE VIEWING AUDIENCE, CAN YOU EXPLAIN, MS. SMITH WHAT YOU´RE ASKED UNDERSTANDING OF THE RUM, OVER IS?

THE SECOND IS, WOULD YOU HAVE ANY INTEREST FOR PUSHING ON DISCUSSION FOR CONTROLLING AND PRODUCTS, IN ADDITION TO THE RUM COVER, WHY OR WHY NOT?

TWO MINUTES.

>> TAKE YOU FOR THE QUESTION.

MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE RUM COVER OVER MONIES IS THAT IT IS A RESOURCE FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS AND THE MONIES WE GET FROM EACH BOTTLE SHOULD BE INCREASED FROM THE 25 TO 10.1350.

IT WOULD HELP THE GER S. IT WOULD HELP THE ENTIRE SOCIETY, IN FACT, AND I AM ALL OTHER RESOURCES, AS THERE IS A GREAT AMOUNT OF RESOURCES HERE IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS TO WHERE WE COULD BE INTERNATIONAL.

WE DO NOT HAVE TO JUST BE WITH THE UNITED STATES.

THAT WOULD INCREASE EVERYTHING FOR THE PEOPLE AS FAR AS WEALTH AND FINANCES, AND WE WOULD NOT HAVE TO BE SITTING AND WAITING YEARS FOR INCOME TAX REFUNDS, AS WE HAVE BEEN DOING, AND PEOPLE ARE FRUSTRATED ABOUT THAT.

SO, I AM VERY MUCH INTERESTED IN GETTING INVOLVED AND FINDING OUT HOW TO GET AT THESE RESOURCES SO THAT WE CAN LIVE A BETTER LIFE FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION.

>> THANK YOU.

MR. PICKARD, TWO MINUTES.

WHAT IS YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF RUM COVER-OVER, INCLUDING THE PETROLEUM?

>> SO, THE RUM COVER-OVER IS A SITUATION WE HAVE BEEN WE ARE SUPPOSED TO GET A MAJOR PERCENTAGE OF THE RUM COVER- OVER, EVERY MODEL.

IT HAS BEEN AT $10.50 EVERY SO ODD YEARS, AND THE FLUCTUATING GOES TO $13.25.

THEY INTRODUCED A BILL LAST YEAR, NINE YEARS AFTER SHE HAS BEEN INTO OFFICE TO HAVE $13.25 GO AS PERMANENT.

I PERSONALLY DON´T BELIEVE WE SHOULD HAVE THIS PERMANENT.

THERE IS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO GET MORE PERCENTAGE IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

MY THING IS TO INTRODUCE BILLS, ASKING FOR MORE PERCENTAGE FOR THE RUM COVER-OVER, WHICH WE ABSOLUTELY DESERVE HERE THAT IS NOT THE CASE.

IN ORDER TO DO THAT, WE MUST ESTABLISH A RELATIONSHIP WITH MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, BOTH DEMOCRATS AS WELL AS REPUBLICANS, AND EXPLAIN TO THEM THE NECESSITY OF US ASKING FOR A HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF THE RUM COVER-OVER THAN WHAT WE ARE RECEIVING NOW.

IT CAN BENEFIT THE PEOPLE OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS IN A TREMENDOUS WAY TO ME BUT IN ORDER TO DO THAT, WE MUST FIGHT, AND WE MUST MAKE SURE WE HAVE A POSITIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR MEMBERS AND COLLEAGUES IN CONGRESS.

MY ONLY THING IS, I ACTUALLY WISH THAT INCUMBENT HAD INTRODUCED THIS BILL NINE YEARS AGO, WHEN PRESIDENT OBAMA WAS PRESIDENT ME HE IS A DEMOCRAT, SHE IS A DEMOCRAT AS WELL.

THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE PERFECT OPPORTUNITY FOR HER TO INTRODUCE THAT BILL AS A PART OF BEING PERMANENTLY TO $13.25, BUT SHE DID NOT DO IT.

SHE DID IT LAST YEAR.

I´M SURE SHE HAD A REASON AS TO WHY SHE WAITED SO LONG TO GET DONE.

HOPEFULLY, IT CAN BE PASSED, AND IF SO, THIS IS POSSIBLE, AND IT IS POSSIBLE FOR ME FOR THAT PERCENTAGE OF $13.25 TO HIRE THAN WHAT IT IS, BECAUSE WE ARE ACTUALLY OLD MUCH MORE THAN WE ARE RECEIVING, PICKARD.

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR RESPONSE.

CONGRESSWOMAN, LET ME REPEAT THE QUESTION FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE VIEWING AUDIENCE.

EXPLAIN YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE RUM COVER-OVER, AND IS THERE ANY ROOM FOR PUSHING PETROLEUM PRODUCTS?

>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.

I KNOW MANY PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT US RECEIVING OUR FAIR SHARE, PARTICULARLY WHEN IT COMES TO ROME AND THE EXCESS TAX THAT COMES BACK TO US FOR EACH PROOF TO GO BACK TO THE UNITED STATES.

THIS IS AN ISSUE FOR BOTH THE VIRGIN ISLANDS AND TO PUERTO RICO.

I WORKED HAND AND HAND WITH MY REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUE FROM PUERTO RICO TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE THE BEST MOVEMENT ON THAT REQUEST.

LAST YEAR, I DID REQUEST THAT THE RUM COVER-OVER BE MADE PERMANENT IN PRESIDENT BIDEN´S BUILD BACK BETTER.

AT THAT TIME, I BECAME A MEMBER OF THE HOUSE WAYS AND NEEDS COMMITTEE, THE OLDEST AND MOST EXCLUSIVE COMMITTEE IN CONGRESS, AND ACTUALLY THE COMMITTEE THAT DOES TAX- WRITING.

BECAUSE I WAS ON THAT COMMITTEE I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO PUT LEGISLATION IN WHICH IS WAY OUTSIDE OF THE BALLPARK OF WHAT HAS BEEN DONE PREVIOUSLY.

THAT ACTUALLY DID PASS THE HOUSE IN PRESIDENT BIDEN´S BUILD BACK BETTER LEGISLATION.

IT WAS BILL DID NOT PASS IN THE SENATE, BECAUSE WE DID NOT HAVE ONE DEMOCRAT WHO WOULD NOT SUPPORT IT, AND THERE WERE NO REPUBLICANS THAT WOULD SUPPORT THE BUILD BACK BETTER LEGISLATION.

THAT WAS ALSO LEGISLATION WENT MANY OTHER STATES HAD TAX EXTENDERS AND REQUEST THEY HAD AND IT ALL DIED.

WE ARE NOW IN A CONGRESS WHICH HAS NOT PASSED A PASSED BILL, AND WE ARE WAITING UNTIL 2025, WHEN IF ELECTED AGAIN, I WILL BE BACK ON THE WEIGHTS AND NEEDS COMMITTEE, AND WE WILL BE BACK TO REQUEST THAT.

GASOLINE WAS ALSO A PART OF YOUR QUESTION.

I KNOW THAT JUDGE HODGE DID AN INCREDIBLE JOB OF BRINGING THIS TO THE SUPREME COURT.

AT THAT TIME, THE COURT SAYS, THIS WAS NOT A MATTER FOR THE COURT TO DECIDE, AND THAT CONGRESS WAS THE SOLE OFFICER.

I HAVE RAISED THIS ISSUE WITH OTHER MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, AND THEY ARE UNWILLING TO SUPPORT THAT LEGISLATION.

OKAY, WE HAVE TWO REBUTTALS.

MS. SMITH.

60 SECONDS.

>> THANK YOU.

IN REGARDS TO THE HOUSE AND WAYS COMMITTEE, I NOTICED RECENTLY IN SOME PUBLICATION THAT THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION IS REQUESTING THAT CONGRESS KEEP ALL OF THE EXCESS TAXES FROM THE RUM COVER-OVER MONIES FROM GUAM, PUERTO RICO, AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS, AND THAT WOULD GIVE CONGRESS $7 BILLION, WITH A B, OF OUR RESOURCES.

AND WE NEED TO BE AWARE THAT IF WE DO NOT MAKE CONGRESS KNOW THAT WE WILL NOT ALLOW THAT, BECAUSE OF OUR INTERNATIONAL STATUS UNDER THE TREATY, THEN WE WILL LOSE THOSE MONIES AS WELL.

BECAUSE LIKE I SAID, THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION DID PUT FORTH A PROPOSAL TO CONGRESS IN REGARDS TO BEING ABLE TO KEEP $7 BILLION OF THESE RUM COVER-OVER IN REGARDS TO PUERTO RICO, WE LOVE PUERTO RICO.

THEY ARE OUR SISTER ISLAND.

HOWEVER, THEY ARE UNDER A DIFFERENT TYPE OF TREATY.

>> A REBUTTAL TO THE INCUMBENT, SHE SAID, IT COULD NOT PASS THE SENATE, WHICH IS THE REPUBLICANS.

WHAT SHE IS NOT TELLING THE PEOPLE OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS IS HER BEHAVIOR HAS CONSTANTLY ATTACKED THE PARTY, SHE HAS USED ALL KIND OF NAMES, ACCUSED EVERYONE OF BEING RACIST.

SHE WONDERS WHY SHE CAN´T GET A BILL PASSED.

AS LONG AS SHE IS THERE, SHE WILL NEVER GET A BILL PASSED.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A HOUSE AS IT PERTAINS TO THE SENATE, UNTIL SHE CAN CONDUCT A PROFESSIONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, BOTH REPUBLICAN, AS WELL AS DEMOCRATS.

THAT IS REALITY.

IT IS A SHAME, BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE SHE COULD HAVE GOTTEN BILLS PASSED A LONG TIME AGO.

HAD SHE INTRODUCED THAT RUM COVER-OVER BILL AT A TIME WHEN PRESIDENT OBAMA WAS IN OFFICE, IN OFFICE TWO ADMINISTRATIONS.

PRESIDENT BIDEN IS IN OFFICE, WAS A DEMOCRAT.

JOE BIDEN IS A DEMOCRAT, SHE IS LOOKING TO GET IT PASSED.

HAS SHE ESTABLISHED A PROFESSIONAL RELATIONSHIP, AND FELT ATTACKING A PARTICULAR MEMBER OF CONGRESS, SHE COULD´VE GONE MUCH FURTHER AND IF SHE CAN´T GO FURTHER, THAT MEANS WE CAN´T GO FURTHER BECAUSE SHE IS REPRESENTING US.

>> YES, YOU MAY RESPOND.

60 SECONDS.

>> I AM GRATEFUL THAT SMITH BROUGHT UP THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION, A REPUBLICAN RUN ORGANIZATION, WHICH IS TRYING TO TAKE AWAY A LOT OF RIGHTS OF INDIVIDUALS.

ONE OF THE CANDIDATES IN THIS RACE IS A MEMBER OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS TRYING TO TAKE AWAY A LOT OF OUR RIGHT.

AS FOR THE BILL NOT PASSING IN THE SENATE, THE BILL DID NOT PASS BECAUSE NO BILLS THAT WERE PART OF BUILD BACK BETTER PAST.

THAT WAS FOR MANY OF US, MANY PIECES OF LEGISLATION DID NOT PASS IN THE REPUBLICAN RUN SENATE.

AND WE ARE GOING TO DO IT AGAIN.

WE HAVE IN THE PAST HAD EXTENDERS TO THE RUM COVER-OVER PAST, AND THIS IS NOT A SITUATION THAT WE HAVE NOT BEEN IN BEFORE, WHEN WE MOVED BACK TO THE 2025, AND WHEN THE TAX BILL CAME UP, WHICH WILL IN 2025 IT WAS ADDED TO THAT TAX BILL AND WAS THEN SUPPORTED TO THE PEOPLE OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS.

>> OUR NEXT QUESTION, YOU WILL BE ALLOWED TWO MINUTES, AND WE WILL START WITH YOU, MS. PICKARD.

THE CURRENT CONGRESS HAS DEVELOPED BILLS TO TELL WHAT HAS BEEN CHARACTERIZED, AND I QUOTE, AS EXCESS OF FEDERAL INTERVENTION IN EVERYDAY LIVES OF CITIZENS AND ACTIVITIES OF BUSINESSES, AND QUOTE.

WHAT IS YOUR OPINION OF FEDERAL OVERSIGHT IN SUCH AREAS AS THE WORKPLACE, AND EXTERNAL ENVIRONMENT, IN PARTICULAR?

WOULD YOU SUPPORT CONTINUED FEDERAL OVERSIGHT, OR WILL YOU JOIN IN PUSHING FOR ITS ROLLBACK?

YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES.

QUESTION, OR RATHER STATEMENT.

IN SOME CASES, YOU DO NEED THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO INTERCEDE.

IF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT -- SHOULD HAVE HAD THEIR HANDS IN YEARS AGO.

AND THE AUDIT, IT IS HIGHLY IMPERATIVE THAT FORENSIC AUDITS SHOULD HAVE BEEN CONDUCTED, AND ALL OF THE MONEY BROUGHT DOWN FROM CONGRESS TO THE VIRGIN ISLANDS, THIS APPEARS LIKE THAT.

THERE IS NO ACCOUNTABILITY.

THERE IS NO TRANSPARENCY.

BECAUSE OF THAT, THE MONEY CONTINUES TO DISAPPEAR.

I FEEL THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHOULD GET THEIR HANDS INVOLVED IN THE SITUATION IS CERTAIN, I WILL NOT SAY ALL, IN CERTAIN TOPICS AND SITUATIONS, AND THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.

WE DO GET THE ASSISTANCE OF FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO CONDUCT AN OVERSIGHT AS IT CONTAINS TO THE MISAPPROPRIATION, MISHANDLING OF FEDERAL FUNDED MONEY, IT WILL DO GOOD.

FOR EXAMPLE, YOU HAVE FIVE COLLEAGUES, FIVE CONGRESSMEN THAT WROTE LETTERS TO AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS, EXPLAINING THE MISAPPROPRIATION THAT HAS TAKEN PLACE IN WAPA.

>> THANK YOU, MS. PLASKETT, COULD YOU PLEASE ANSWER THE SAME QUESTION REGARDING YOUR OPINION ON FEDERAL OVERSIGHT IN SUCH AREAS AS THE WORKPLACE, AND ENVIRONMENT, AND WOULD YOU SUPPORT CONTINUED FEDERAL OVERSIGHT, OR WOULD YOU JOIN IN PUSHING FOR ITS ROLLBACK?

>> THANK YOU.

I AGREE THAT THERE ARE PLACES WHERE THERE SHOULD BE FEDERAL OVERSIGHT.

I´M GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK THAT THE EPA HAS DONE ON MY HOME ISLAND OF ST. CROIX, AS IT PERTAINS TO THE REFINERY, ENSURING THAT IT IS A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR THOSE WHO LIVE WITHIN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND THEN, ALSO ASSISTING SO THAT THINGS CAN BE DONE APPROPRIATELY, AND RIGHTLY, SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO HAVE THE WORK, BUT IN A SAFE ENVIRONMENT.

ADDITIONALLY, WITH REGARD TO FEDERAL MONEY THAT ARE COMING DOWN TO THE VIRGIN ISLANDS, I AM GRATEFUL THAT MY OFFICE HAS REQUESTED AUDITS REPORTS TO BE DONE.

SOME OF THOSE ARE PUBLISHED ON HUD´S WEBSITE, HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, AS WELL AS FEMA.

IT WAS IN FACT A FEDERAL INVESTIGATION, WHICH SHOWED THE MISAPPROPRIATION AND MISUSE OF LUMBER IN THE HOUSING PROGRAM ON THE ST. CROIX THAT LED TO AN INDICTMENT OF AN INDIVIDUAL RELATED TO THAT.

SO, WE KNOW THAT THERE IS SOME OVERSIGHT BEING DONE.

WE ALL NEED TO WORK TOGETHER TO ENSURE THAT ALL OF THIS MONEY GETS ON THE GROUND TO WHERE IT IS SUPPOSED TO.

THAT TAKES MANY BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT, INVESTIGATORS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, AND FROM THE JUDICIARY BRANCH, LEGISLATIONS BEING PUT IN AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL TO ENSURE THAT MONEY IS SPENT, AS WELL AS OUR OWN LOCAL LEGISLATOR THAT HAS SUBPOENA POWER OVER THE GOVERNOR, AND THE ADMINISTRATION, AND HOW THAT MONEY IS USED.

>> THANK YOU.

>> A REBUTTAL?

>> MOST RECENTLY, LIKE I SAID EARLIER-- >> 60 SECONDS.

>> IT WILL NOT TAKE THAT LONG.

>> WE HAVE FIVE COLLEAGUES THAT ADDRESSED THE SITUATION IN TERMS OF MISAPPROPRIATION OF FEDERALLY FUNDED MONEY HERE IN THE ISLANDS.

INSTEAD OF INCUMBENTS JOINING HER COLLEAGUES, WE ALL KNOW IT WAS A LOT OF MISAPPROPRIATION OF FEDERALLY FUNDED MONEY HERE, SHE CALLED IT PROPAGANDA.

NOT THAT SHE AGREED TO THE FACT THAT WE HAVE A PROBLEM, APPROPRIATION OR MISHANDLING, OR MISUSE OF MONEY, THE HELP THAT WAS COMING TO ASSIST US, SHE CALLED IT PROPAGANDA.

FIGHTING AGAINST HER VERY OWN PEOPLE BY DISMISSING THE FACT THAT WE HAVE A PROBLEM OF ISSUES WHEN IT PERTAINS TO MISAPPROPRIATION OF FUNDS.

THIS IS FACTUAL DOCUMENTED INFORMATION I AM TALKING ABOUT.

>> 60 SECONDS.

>> THE SPECIFIC LETTER THAT THE CANDIDATE IS PICKING UP WAS RELATED TO THE TALL.

THESE WERE INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS OF CONGRESS WHO WERE IN FACT LOBBIED BY VTAL TO PUSH AND PRESSURE THE GOVERNMENT OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS TO USE CBG MONEY, WHICH I FELT SHOULD MORE RIGHTLY GO TO ASSIST WITH BUILDING HOUSING TO PAY FOR A CONTRACT WHICH I BELIEVE WAS ERRONEOUSLY DONE WHICH HAD TERMS IN IT WITH 15% INTEREST RATE AND HAD BLOWN AWAY MORE THAN THE ORIGINAL CONTRACT WAS.

THESE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS WERE PUSHING AND TRYING TO GET THIS GOVERNOR TO IN FACT PAY VITAL, AND ONCE AGAIN, HE DIDN´T.

I WAS IN A ROW WHERE I CANNOT FORCE THE GOVERNOR TO DO THAT.

THAT PRESSURE, WHICH MY OPPONENT BELIEVED WAS APPROPRIATE, CALLS CAUSED THE USE OF $100 MILLION, RATHER THAN GOING TO HOUSING, GOING TO >> THANK YOU.

I THINK WE NOW NEED TO MOVE ON.

YES, MS. SMITH, YOU ARE THE FINAL RESPONDENT TO THIS QUESTION AND TO JUST REMIND YOU, THIS IS YOUR OPINION ON THE FEDERAL OVERSIGHT, AND WHETHER OR NOT THIS SHOULD BE A CONTINUED OVERSIGHT, OR YOU THINK WE SHOULD JOIN IN ITS ROLLBACK?

>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.

IN REGARDS TO THE FEDERAL OVERSIGHT, I AM ALL FOR IT.

I APPRECIATE THE QUESTION BECAUSE, IT IS SPECIFICALLY WRITTEN IN ARTICLE SIX OF TREATY SERIES 629, WHICH IS THE FIRST VIRGIN ISLANDS CODE, WHERE CONGRESS DOES HAVE CONTROL OVER THE POLITICAL AND CIVIL ACTIVITIES IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS EXCEPT AS IT PERTAINS TO THE STIPULATIONS IN THE TREATY.

I AM ALL FOR THE DEA, THE EPA, HUD, FEMA, AND ANY AGENCY THAT IS GOING TO ASSIST THE PEOPLE OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS IN A POSITIVE WAY, AND INCREASE OUR LIVING STANDARD, AND NOT SUBTRACT FROM IT.

SPECIFICALLY, WE NEED BETTER HOUSING, WE NEED BETTER INFRASTRUCTURE, AND THE FOOD BILL THAT PASSED, WE NEED THOSE MONIES TO COME HERE AND BE USED BY OUR FARMERS, SO THAT WE CAN BECOME MORE INDEPENDENT IN A STABLE ECONOMY FOR OUR FOOD, HOUSING, AND TRANSPORTATION.

SO, I AM FOR CONGRESS ASSISTING US IN THAT WAY, YES.

>> THANK YOU.

I GUESS THE NEXT QUESTION WE CAN MOVE ON.

WE WILL START WITH YOU, MS. PLASKETT, WE WILL HAVE 60 SECONDS FOR THIS ONE.

WHAT IS YOUR POSITION ON AN ACTING WORKPLACE REQUIREMENT FOR FEDERAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS SUCH AS MEDICAID, SNAP, AND TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES?

60 SECONDS.

>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.

THIS HAS BEEN SOMETHING THAT I WAS A MEMBER OF THE AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE FOR 8 YEARS.

ON THE AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE WAS NUTRITION.

IN THE FARM BILL, WHICH IS PASSED EVERY FOUR YEARS, THIS CONTAINS AN INCREDIBLE BONE OF CONTENTION BETWEEN BOTH THE DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS, WHERE IT WAS DIFFICULT FOR US TO FIND COMMON GROUND.

MANY OF US BELIEVE THOSE NEEDY FAMILIES ARE DOING WHAT IS NECESSARY AND TRYING DESPERATELY, PHYSICALLY OUR ELDERS AND OTHERS ON FIXED INCOMES, AND HAVEN´T WORK REQUIREMENTS FOR THEM SEEM TO BE INCREDIBLY ONEROUS.

ADDITIONALLY, INDIVIDUALS ARE IN FACT GIVEN A TIME TO FIND WORK, BUT THERE IS NOT WORK IN THEIR AREA, THEY SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO RECEIVE THE MOST BASIC THING, WHICH IS FOOD.

I´M GRATEFUL I´VE BEEN WORKING WITH MEMBERS OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY TO SUPPORT LEGISLATION FROM MEMBERS FROM PENNSYLVANIA, THE AMOUNT OF FOOD COMING TO THE TABLE OF OUR CHILDREN THROUGH LOCAL FARMS.

>> THINK YOU.

NEXT WE MOVE ON TO MS. SMITH.

YES.

THE QUESTION HAS TO DO WITH WHETHER OR NOT YOU BELIEVE THERE SHOULD BE FEDERAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS, WE SHOULD HAVE WORKPLACE REQUIREMENTS FOR FEDERAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS, DECAY, S.N.A.P., AND TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES?

>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.

I ABSOLUTELY BELIEVE THERE SHOULD BE WORKPLACE REQUIREMENTS FOR MEDICAID, S.N.A.P., IF THE PERSON IS ABLE TO WORK, THEN THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO WORK TO RECEIVE THE BENEFITS.

MEDICAID FOR THE ELDERLY, MEDICARE, THAT SHOULD BE AN ABSOLUTE YES.

THEY DESERVE IT, THEY´VE EARNED IT, AND THEY ARE ENTITLED TO IT, AND THEY NEED IT.

THE MEDICAID THAT IS COMING INTO THE TERRITORY SHOULD CONTINUE TO COME INTO THE S.N.A.P.

BENEFITS, IF AN ABLE-BODIED PERSON IS ABLE TO GET OUT AND WORK PART-TIME, THEN THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO THAT IN ORDER TO GET THE BENEFITS, I DO BELIEVE THAT.

>> THANK YOU.

MR. PICKARD, YOU HAVE 60 SECONDS TO ANSWER THE SAME QUESTION REGARDING THE ACTING WORK REQUIREMENTS AND FEDERAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS.

>> IS NOT THAT WE DON´T HAVE PROGRAMS TO ASSIST OUR PEOPLE, THE MONEY COMING IN FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THERE IS NO ACCOUNTABILITY.

IT DISAPPEARS, THERE´S NO ACCOUNTABILITY.

THAT IS OUR BIGGEST PROBLEM.

THE VENDORS, MEDICAID, MEDICARE, MEP.

THERE ARE A LOT OF PATIENTS RIGHT NOW THAT CANNOT TRAVEL TO THE UNITED STATES AND GET MEDICAL SURGERIES CONDUCTED THE REASON OF THAT IS BECAUSE WE ORDER OWE VENDORS.

A LOT OF VENDORS THAT WE THAT HAVE NOT BEEN PAID.

AND THAT IS MY MAIN THING WHEN I GET INTO CONGRESS, TO GET THE FINANCE AND PAINT THESE VENDORS SO THAT OUR SERVICES CAN OPEN BACK UP AGAIN FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS HERE THERE ARE SO MANY PROGRAMS DOWN HERE, FEDERALLY EXPANDED PROGRAMS ON STANDBY, AND IT CONTINUES TO BE ON STANDBY.

THE PEOPLE ARE FRUSTRATED, BECAUSE THEY ARE WONDERING, WHAT HAPPENED TO THE MONEY?

WHY IS THE PROCESS TAKING SO LONG?

>> THANK YOU, MR. PICKARD.

WE HAVE A REBUTTAL FOR PLASKETT FOR 60 SECONDS, PLEASE.

>> THE REASON I AM REBUTTING, IS BECAUSE MY OPPONENT DID NOT RESPOND TO THE QUESTION, WHICH IS WHETHER OR NOT HE BELIEVES THERE SHOULD BE WORKPLACE REQUIREMENTS, WORK REQUIREMENTS TO PEOPLE RECEIVING PUBLIC ASSISTANCE, WHETHER THAT BE FOOD STAMPS, WHETHER THAT BE ATTENTIVE TANF COURT MEDICAID OR MEDICARE.

THE REPUBLICAN PARTY FOR WHICH HE IS A MEMBER HAS STATED THAT THOSE WORKPLACE REQUIREMENTS SHOULD IN FACT BE IN PLACE.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE DEMOCRAT AND REPUBLICAN PARTIES ON THE ISSUE OF FOOD STAMPS AND OTHERS .

THEIR CONCERN IS , TOO MUCH MONEY IS BEING GIVEN IN SOCIAL SERVICES TO CHILDREN.

THEY WANT TO CUT SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAMS.

THEY WANT TO CUT FOOD STAMPS GOING TO NEEDY FAMILIES.

AND THEY SAID, THOSE INDIVIDUALS SHOULD FIND THE RESOURCES TO TAKE CARE OF THIS THEMSELVES.

YES, IN AREAS WHERE PEOPLE CAN FIND WORK, AND THEY ARE ABLE TO BODY , THEY SHOULD WORK.

THERE ARE MANY PLACES IN OUR COUNTRY, INCLUDING THE VIRGIN ISLANDS, WHERE PEOPLE ARE UNABLE TO FIND THE KIND OF WORK, OR DO NOT HAVE THE SKILL SET OR ABILITY TO DO THAT.

>> THANK YOU.

I THINK WE NEED TO --YES, YOU CAN ANSWER.

60 SECONDS.

>> I DO BELIEVE THAT IF YOU ARE ABLE TO WORK, IT IS HIGHLY IMPERATIVE THAT YOU DO WORK.

AND OF COURSE, I WOULD NEVER STAND HERE AND SAY, IF A PERSON HAS AN ABLE BODY, AND YOU ARE ABLE TO ACTUALLY--WHICH THIS IDEA THAT PERTAINS TO WORK, OF COURSE I WILL SAY WORK.

ABSOLUTELY.

WHAT SHE IS TRYING TO INDICATE, SHE´S TRYING TO INSINUATE AS THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, OUR JOB IS TO TRY TO STOP PEOPLE´S BENEFITS.

THAT IS NOT FACTUAL.

WE ARE HERE TO HELP THE PEOPLE OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS.

AS IT STANDS RIGHT NOW, GOING ON 60 YEARS, THE VIRGIN ISLANDS HAS BEEN RAN BY THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, A LOOK AT WHERE WE ARE TODAY.

I AM SIMPLY SAYING, GIVE ME A CHANGE IN BALANCE.

IF ONE THING IS NOT WORKING, YOU HAVE TO TRY SOMETHING ELSE.

TO NOT GET CONFUSED WITH A PARTY THAT CONTAINS REPUBLICANS OR DEMOCRATS.

SHE IS BRINGING IN THAT STATESIDE DIFFERENCE THAT THE WORK IS TAKING PLACE BETWEEN REPUBLICANS AND IMMIGRANTS.

HERE, IT IS ALL ABOUT VIRGIN ISLANDS.

WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER.

>> THANK YOU.

I HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION, I BELIEVE.

YES.

THIS ONE IS 90 SECONDS.

AND WE ARE GOING TO START WITH THIS IS ON SOCIAL SECURITY.

IN A RECENT SURVEY BY AARP IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS, 7 IN 10 LOCAL RESIDENTS AGE 45 PLUS RELY ON SOCIAL SECURITY AS A MAJOR PART OR SOLE SOURCE OF INCOME IN RETIREMENT.

THE SOCIAL SECURITY TRUST PREDICTED TO SEE A SHORTFALL IN 10 YEARS, PERSONS COUNTING ON SOCIAL SECURITY, THE MONEY THEY HAVE AND.

WHAT SOLUTION DO YOU SEE CONGRESS WORKING ON TO STRENGTHEN SOCIAL SECURITY FOR THOSE WHO RELY ON IT?

YOU HAVE 90 SECONDS .

>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.

I SEE CONGRESS WORKING ON THE SOLUTION TO STRENGTHEN SOCIAL SECURITY FOR THE FUTURE BY MAKING SURE THAT THE PEOPLE OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS GETS WHAT IS ENTITLED TO THEM, BE IT THROUGH OUR RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE ALREADY WITH THE RUM COVER- OVER, IF WE NEED TO USE SOME OF THAT MONEY, IF WE USE THE PETROLEUM, IF WE USE OUR AGRICULTURE, WE SHOULD BE SUSTAINABLE.

WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO RELY ON SOCIAL SECURITY, WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT BE CUT.

I DID HEAR FROM THE AARP, AND I STILL HAVE THE INCUMBENT, JUST AS REASON I LISTENED TO THAT, IN FACT NEEDED IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS.

SO, WE WOULD SPEAK WITH THEM, WE BEING-- AS YOUR REPRESENTATIVE, I WOULD SPEAK WITH THEM AND LET THEM KNOW THAT IT IT IS A NECESSITY WE RELY ON AND CANNOT BE CUT.

>> THANK YOU.

OKAY, MR. PICKARD, I BELIEVE YOU ARE NEXT.

>> SOCIAL SECURITY VERY IMPERATIVE.

IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS RIGHT NOW, REALLY SUSTAINED A MAJOR BLOW.

WHILE IN CONGRESS, I WILL TALK TO MY COLLEAGUES AND EXPLAIN TO THEM HOW IMPERATIVE IT IS TO MAKE SURE THAT SOCIAL SECURITY IS NOT TOUCHED.

RIGHT NOW, AS IT PERTAINS TO THE UNITED STATES, THEY RECEIVE SSI BENEFITS, SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS.

A LOT OF THEM HAVE NOT COME BACK TO THE VIRGIN ISLANDS BECAUSE AS WHEN THEY DO, CERTAIN BENEFITS ARE CUT WHEN YOU TOUCH DOWN ON THE SOIL.

THAT IS THE CASE IN PUERTO RICO AS IT PERTAINS TO THAT.

MY THING IS TO FURTHER ENCOURAGE AND ENLIGHTEN THE PEOPLE, MY COLLEAGUES IN CONGRESS, HOW IMPORTANT IT IS AND HOW THE PEOPLE OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS RELY STRONGLY ON RECEIVING THE FULL BENEFITS AS IT PERTAINS TO SOCIAL SECURITY.

>> THANK YOU, MS. PLASKETT , COULD YOU TELL US HOW YOU SEE CONGRESS WORKING TO STRENGTHEN SOCIAL SECURITY FOR THOSE WHO RELY ON IT?

>> THANK YOU.

UNFORTUNATELY, THIS IS AN AREA WHERE THERE GREAT DIFFERENCES FOR ADVANCING SOCIAL SECURITY.

I HAVE COSPONSORED LEGISLATION THAT HAS BEEN OFFERED BY COLLEAGUES JOHN LARSON, OF RESOURCES AND MONEY INTO THE SOCIAL SECURITY TRUST SO THAT THAT MONEY IS THERE.

ALSO, THE LAST CONGRESS WAS ABLE TO GET A CHANGE IN LAW FOR MEDICAID INDIVIDUALS SO THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE ON MEDICAID, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS PAYING 83% AS OPPOSED TO THE 55% THAT THEY WERE PAYING PREVIOUSLY.

THAT HAS MEANT THAT 20,000 MORE URGENT ISLANDERS , THE MOST NEEDY MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY, ARE IN FACT RECEIVING HEALTHCARE.

AS FOR SSI, LET ME TELL YOU, THE ONLY REASON I AM THE FIRST DELICATE, AND ONLY THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN IN HISTORY TO BE ON THE WAYS AND THE COMMITTEE IS BECAUSE THE ENTIRE CREDIT CAUCUS UNANIMOUSLY SAID, I SHOULD BE ONE OF THE MEMBERS REPRESENTING THE DEMOCRATS ON THAT COMMITTEE.

WHILE I WAS ON THAT COMMITTEE, WOULD PRESIDENT BIDEN ´S BILL, BUILD BACK AT HER, SITTING ON THE COMMITTEE I WAS ABLE TO PUT IN SSI FOR THE TERRITORIES.

THAT BILL PASSED THE HOUSE , AND UNFORTUNATELY, DIED IN THE SENATE.

IF REELECTED , I WILL INTRODUCE IT AGAIN.

>> THANK YOU.

WE WILL MOVE ON TO ANOTHER QUESTION THAT I THINK WOULD BE OF GREAT INTEREST TO ALL OF OUR CANDIDATES.

WE WILL START WITH YOU, MR. PICKARD.

60 SECONDS.

THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO SAY, THEY ARE NOT GOING TO BE VOTING IN THE COMING ELECTION.

THERE IS LITTLE BEING DONE TO ALLEVIATE ISSUES THAT SEEM TO GROW LARGER EVERY YEAR, SUCH AS CRIME AND ENERGY.

WHAT CAN YOU SAY TO VOTERS ABOUT THE NEED TO VOTE , AND IN PARTICULAR, FOR THE CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVE?

>> WELL, THAT IS UNFORTUNATE, AND IT IS A FACT.

EVERY ELECTION YOU SEE A REDUCTION OF MOTORS VOTING IN CONTAINING TO THE PUBLIC SECTOR, YOU DON´T SEE ANY GROWTH AND YOU DON´T SEE ANY GROWTH AS IT PERTAINS TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

LOOK AT THE STATISTICS.

WE ARE RANKED NUMBER FOUR IN THE WORLD, HOMICIDE NUMBER ONE IN THE NATION, AS IT PERTAINS TO HUMAN SEX TRAFFICKING.

THE CITY 45% WHEN IT COMES TO POVERTY, 95% PERTAINING TO RATE.

I ENCOURAGE YOU GUYS, YOU HAVE TO CONTINUE TO VOTE.

COME BACK OUT AND VOTE .

IT IS A SHAME BECAUSE AS YOU SEE NOW, OVER 30 SOMETHING THOUSAND PEOPLE OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS HAVE LEFT THE VIRGIN ISLANDS AND RELOCATED BACK TO THE UNITED STATES.

30 SOMETHING THOUSAND PEOPLE WHO WILL NOT BE VOTING FOR CANDIDATES.

IT IS VERY UNFORTUNATE, BUT WHAT DO WE DO, THE BIGGEST QUESTION?

HOW DO WE TELL THE PEOPLE OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS WHO STILL REMAIN ON THE VIRGIN ISLANDS TO VOTE?

HE MUST COME OUT.

WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO VOTE.

IT IS YOUR RIGHT.

>> MISSED PLASKETT, COULD YOU PLEASE SPEAK TO WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO THE VOTERS THAT SAY, THEY DON´T WANT TO COME OUT AND VOTE?

>> SURE.

WHAT I WOULD FIRST SAY, ALL OF US HERE LIVE HERE WITH YOU.

WE UNDERSTAND YOUR FRUSTRATION.

WE FEEL IT AS WELL.

THE HIGH COST AND UNRELIABLE ENERGY THAT YOU ARE EXPERIENCING, WE ALSO ARE EXPERIENCING.

I AM EXPERIENCING IN MY OWN HOUSEHOLD, CONCERNED ABOUT CRIME .

MY SON TO GO OUT TO WORK, THE ONES THAT LIVE HERE IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS, I WORRY ABOUT THEM AS IT PERTAINS TO VIOLENT CRIME THAT ARE HAPPENING.

BUT KNOW THAT IN CONGRESS, I AM DOING WHAT IS NECESSARY IN MY JOB TO TRY AND BRING THE RESOURCES TO THE VIRGIN ISLANDS TO COMBAT THAT.

WHETHER IT IS BRINGING ADDITIONAL MARINES TO OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR DRUG AND GUN INTERVENTION TO ENSURE THAT THE VIRGIN ISLANDS HAS $6 BILLION TO REVAMP WAPA.

THAT IS THE JOB OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS, AND FEELING THE FRUSTRATION OF THAT MONEY NOT BEING SEEN BY PEOPLE IN THE TERRITORY.

>> THANK YOU.

MS. SMITH, WE NEED TO KNOW, HOW ARE YOU GOING TO TALK TO PEOPLE ABOUT GETTING OUT TO VOTE, ESPECIALLY THE FOLKS GOING TO CONGRESS?

>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.

BEING THE NEWBIE HERE, I DID GO OUT AND CANVAS, AND I SPOKE WITH PEOPLE OF ALL WALKS OF LIFE, FROM THE STREET GUYS, TO THE EXECUTIVES.

YES, THEY ARE UPSET ABOUT THE CRIMES, THEY ARE UPSET ABOUT THE ENERGY AND FOSSIL FUELS STILL BEING USED.

I TRY TO ENCOURAGE THEM THAT YOUR VOTE IS YOUR VOICE, AND DON´T BE HOPELESS BECAUSE NEW PEOPLE HAVE STEPPED UP TO THE PLATE, AND THOSE THAT KNOW IT, FEEL IT , AND WE ARE FEELING IT, THEREFORE, WE ARE HERE TO MAKE A POSITIVE CHANGE FOR THESE WE WILL DEFINITELY DO.

WE WILL NOT BE ABOUT TALKING, WE WILL BE ABOUT DOING.

I LET THEM KNOW, YES, IN THE PAST, THE PARTIES HAVE DONE WRONG TO THE PEOPLE, BUT THIS TIME, WE ARE NOT ABOUT THE PARTY , WE ARE ABOUT THE PEOPLE AND WE WILL DO THE WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE JUST PLEASE BE ENCOURAGED AND GO OUT AND VOTE.

>> THANK YOU.

YES, GREAT.

FOR THE NEXT QUESTION, YOU WILL EACH HAVE TWO MINUTES.

AND THE QUESTION IS THIS, WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE KEY ISSUES FACING THE TERRITORY THAT COULD BE ADDRESSED BY THE CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVE?

AND THEN DISCUSS WHAT YOUR PLANS ARE FOR DEVELOPING AT LEAST ONE OF THESE.

THIS QUESTION, WE BEGIN WITH MS. PLASKETT.

>> THANK YOU.

I KNOW THAT SOME OF THE KEY ISSUES ARE THE ONES THAT WE JUST SPOKE ABOUT, ONE OF THOSE IN MY OFFICE, I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ENSURE ME THROUGH THE BIPARTISAN BUDGET ACT OF 2018, THAT THE VIRGIN ISLANDS HAS THE FINANCIAL RESOURCES AND MONEY TO BE ABLE TO NOT ONLY DO OUR UTILITIES ARE ENERGY, ALSO PALATABLE WATER.

$6 BILLION COMING INTO THE TERRITORY.

ADDITIONALLY, I HAVE WORKED AS A MEMBER OF THE KWESI NEEDS TO ENSURE THAT THE EARNING OF TAX CREDITS AND CHILD TAX CREDIT ACTUALLY GETS REIMBURSED TO US.

THAT WAS LEGISLATION THAT WAS PASSED THAT I OFFERED.

THAT MEANS THAT 20 MILLION MORE DOLLARS COMING ANNUALLY TO THE VIRGIN ISLANDS TO ENSURE THAT THAT MONEY GOES TO--AND I´M GRATEFUL TO THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATOR, TO ENSURE THAT NUMBER IS GOING TO TAX RETURNS, AS WELL AS TO PAY BACK THE 8% CUTS FOR PAYING GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES.

AS LAW, HAVING BEEN ON THAT COMMITTEE WHEN THERE WAS $540 MILLION CHECK, THE TREASURY WAS ABLE TO WRITE TO US FOR POTENTIAL LOSS REVENUES DURING THE PANDEMIC , BOTH GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATURE DETERMINED THAT USED IN 2022, IN 2023 TO OFFSET BUDGET SHORTFALLS THAT WE WERE HAVING .

I AM GRATEFUL FOR THAT, BUT THERE IS STILL SO MUCH WORK TO BE DONE.

I WANT TO ENSURE THAT SSI COMES TO OUR MOST VULNERABLE VIRGIN ISLANDERS REINTRODUCING LEGISLATION, DRAFTED IN 2025, ENSURING MONIES WE HAVE OFFERED IN THE REPORTS, THE REQUEST OF THESE AGENCIES, WORKING HAND IN GLOVE TO MAKE SURE IT HAPPENS.

I´VE HAD FRUSTRATIONS, THOSE OF YOU THAT WATCH THE NEWS KNOW THAT I HAVE HAD MY PUBLIC DISPUTES WITH THE GOVERNOR ABOUT HOW THE FUNDING IS SPENT.

AS A MEMBER OF CONGRESS, THAT IS NOT MY JOB TO ACTUALLY MANAGE AND UTILIZE THE MONEY, BUT HAVING PUT IT IN THERE, I AM WATCHING LIKE A HAWK HOW THAT MONEY IS BEING SPENT.

I ALSO WANT TO ENSURE THAT OUR SCHOOLS ARE ACTUALLY REBUILT IN THE 10 YEARS TIME THAT THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE REBUILT.

>> IN QUEUE.

MS. SMITH , WHAT YOU SEE AS THE KEY ISSUES AFFECTING THE TERRITORIES THAT YOU CAN ADDRESS AS CONGRESS?

>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.

NOT ONLY DO I SEE THE KEY ISSUES, BUT THE PEOPLE IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS HAVE STATED THE ISSUES WITH MUCH FRUSTRATION THAT WAPA IS AN ISSUE, HAVING INCONSISTENT ELECTRICITY, CAUSING THEIR APPLIANCES TO BE DAMAGED, THAT IS A KEY ISSUE.

NOT HAVING CONSISTENT WATER TO BATHE PROPERLY, THAT IS AN ISSUE.

AND I SEE THAT WE CAN BRING IN SOLAR ENERGY, WE CAN BRING IN HYDRO ENERGY, SINCE WE ARE AN ISLAND SURROUNDED BY WATER, WE SHOULD UTILIZE THE NEW TECHNOLOGY, VERSUS THE OLD THAT HAS NOT WORKED FOR OVER FIVE DECADES.

I ALSO SEE THAT EDUCATION , WITHOUT OUR YOUTH, OUR OFFSPRING HAVING PROPER EDUCATION AND GETTING THE SKILLS THAT ARE REQUIRED TO NOT ONLY BE ABLE TO BUT TO BE ABLE TO WORK INTERNATIONALLY, THAT I WOULD DEFINITELY MAKE MY TOP PRIORITY .

WITHOUT OUR YOUTH HAVING THE SKILL, THEN WE ARE IN DESPAIR AND WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO BE PRODUCTIVE CITIZENS OF THE PLANET.

I WOULD DEFINITELY WORK ON A BILL THAT WOULD MAKE SURE THAT THE EDUCATION SYSTEM IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS IS THE TOP.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, MR. PICKARD, SAME FOR YOU.

WHAT YOU SEE IS A CRITICAL ISSUE FOR THE TERRITORIES THAT YOU COULD ADDRESS TO CONGRESS?

>> THE PROMISE AND THE PROMISE OF HOW MUCH MILLIONS AND BILLIONS OF DOLLARS THE ECONOMY HAS BROUGHT TO THE VIRGIN ISLANDS.

IF YOU LOOK OUTSIDE YOUR DOOR, YOU CAN´T FIND ONE PENNY OF THAT MONEY.

WE STILL HAVE PROBLEMS AS IT PERTAINS TO INFRASTRUCTURE.

WE HAVE WATER THAT WE WANT FREE FROM THAT CONTAMINATION.

WE HAVE A PROBLEM AS IT CONTAINS PERTAINS TO THE ENERGY TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN I DO RECEIVE MONEY FROM CONGRESS AND BRING IT TO MY PEOPLE IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS, I WILL MAKE SURE I DO FOLLOW THAT MONEY.

I WILL BE WATCHING THAT MONEY .

IF THE INCUMBENT WAS WATCHING THE MONEY LIKE SHE SAID, LIKE A HAWK, OR MILLION DOLLARS WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN STOLEN IN THE FIRST PLACE.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE CONDUCT SOMETHING NEVER BEFORE IN HISTORY.

WE NEED TO CONDUCT A FORENSIC AUDIT, A PROSECUTION AUDIT FOR ME TO MAKE SURE THE MONEY GOES TO THE DEPARTMENT IT IS ALLOTTED TO GO TO.

$5 MILLION FOR EDUCATION, $5 MILLION NEEDS TO GO TO EDUCATION.

$10 MILLION FOR HEALTHCARE, $10 MILLION TO SHOULD GO TO HEALTHCARE.

WE HAVE TO FOLLOW THE MONEY TO MAKE SURE IT GOES WHERE IT IS SUPPOSED TO.

THAT IS SOMETHING YOU GUARANTEE THAT PICKARD WILL DO.

>> YOU HAVE 60 SECONDS.

>> OKAY.

I AGREED THAT IN FACT, IT IS ONE OF THE MOST FRUSTRATING JOBS FOR ME, I KNOW HOW MUCH WORK IT WAS TO ENSURE THAT THE VIRGIN ISLANDS HAD THE APPROPRIATION OF THIS MONEY, THAT THE MONEY WAS IN FACT BEEN OBLIGATED TO THE VIRGIN ISLANDS SO WE COULD REBUILD.

WE HAVE ON DECK TO REBUILD 10 SCHOOLS, TO REBUILD OUR HOSPITALS.

I HAVE AN ELDERLY MOTHER AND I AM CONCERNED ABOUT HER AND THE NEEDS OF OUR HOSPITALS HERE.

WE ARE ALL CONCERNED ABOUT OUR CHILDREN IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEMS HERE, AND HAVING THE FACILITIES THAT THEY NEED.

THE JOB, HOWEVER, FOR A MEMBER OF CONGRESS IS NOT IN FACT TO BE THAT OVERSIGHT PERSON OVER MONEY ONCE IT COMES.

THIS IS A JOB FOR ALL OF US.

I HAVE WRITTEN AND REQUESTED FOR REPORTS AND REVIEWS, AND AUDITS AND IN FACT, THOSE HAVE BEEN DONE, AS WE HAVE SEEN WITH THE INVESTIGATIONS, INDICTMENTS THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE.

ADDITIONALLY, WE HAVE A LOCAL LEGISLATOR THAT HAS SUBPOENA POWER AND OVERSIGHT.

>> I AM SORRY MR. PICKARD, WE DO HAVE TO MOVE ON.

YOU HAD YOUR TIME.

QUESTION.

THIS ONE IS ONE THAT I FIND EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.

I AM GOING TO START WITH MS. SMITH.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE A SUCCESSFUL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE USVI DELEGATE, AND THE OFFICE OF INSULIN AFFAIRS?

WHAT WOULD BE THE POSSIBLE BENEFITS TO THE TERRITORY BASED ON THE WAY YOU THOUGHT A GOOD RELATIONSHIP GOING FORWARD?

AND YOU HAVE 60 SECONDS .

>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.

I SO APPRECIATE IT BECAUSE, UNDER TITLE 48, UNITED STATES CODE 1541, THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR, WHO IS OVER THE OFFICE OF INSULAR AFFAIRS, IS A PERSON THAT IS FEDERAL RESPONSIBLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE VIRGIN ISLANDS.

TO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH THAT PERSON RIGHT NOW SITTING IN OFFICE IS DEB HOLLAND, WOULD BE AN EXCELLENT THING TO DO, BECAUSE, AS I STATED, SHE IS THE ONE OVER THE GOVERNOR.

THEREFORE, IF WE HAD A RELATIONSHIP WITH HER, THEN WE WOULD BE IN BETTER CONDITION THAN WE ARE RIGHT NOW.

THERE IS SOMETHING CALLED THE LAND ACT OF FEBRUARY 11th, 1805 , AND THE SECRETARY OF INTERIOR IS STATUTORILY RESPONSIBLE TO ENSURE THAT OUR ORIGINAL GOVERNOR SURVEYS ARE ON RECORD AT ALL TIMES, AND THAT COMPLETES OUR OWNERSHIP TO OUR PROPERTIES THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE TERRITORY, NOT JUST ST. JOHN, WHICH BY THE WAY, WAS THE SECRETARY OF INTERIOR THAT TOOK A DEED OF GIFT TO FORM THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE.

>> IN 60 SECONDS, HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE A SUCCESSFUL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE USVI DELEGATE AND OFFICE OF INSULAR AFFAIRS?

WHAT WOULD BE THE POSSIBLE BENEFITS TO SUCH A RELATIONSHIP?

>> TO HAVE A POSITIVE EFFECT, IF WE CAN CONDUCT A RELATIONSHIP --LIKE I SAID BEFORE, WE ARE LOOKING AT 123 YEARS OF INSULIN RESTRICTION.

WHEN I WAS AT RMC, TO SPEAK THE DELEGATES , FROM PUERTO RICO, TO GUAM, AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT, WE ARE ALL FACING SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND SIMILAR ISSUES.

WE ALL HAVE AN ENERGY CRISIS SITUATION, WE HAVE AN ISSUE WITH IT PERTAINS TO MISAPPROPRIATING FUNDS.

WE ALL WANT TO KNOW--ONE QUESTION CAME UP, WE ALL WANTED TO KNOW, WHY CAN´T WE VOTE FOR PRESIDENT OF UNITED STATES IN TODAY´S DATE?

I SAID, IT WOULD BE GOOD IF WE COULD ALL COME TOGETHER AS INSULAR ISLANDS AND APPROACHES A BIGGER VOICE, IN UNITY, VERSUS AN ISLAND TRYING TO ADDRESS OUR CASES.

I THINK WE WOULD SEE POSITIVE RESULTS IN THAT WAY.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SIR.

MS. PLASKETT, YOU HAVE DONE IT MANY TIMES, YOU KNOW HOW THIS GOES, COULD YOU EXPLAIN HOW YOU WOULD DESCRIBE A SUCCESSFUL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE DELEGATES OFFICE AND INSULAR AFFAIRS?

AS IT CURRENTLY STANDS, THE OFFICE IS VERY IMPORTANT.

THEY HAVE OVERSIGHT OVER THE VIRGIN ISLANDS, PROVIDE A LOT OF TECHNICAL SUPPORT.

I´M GRATEFUL TO HAVE SECRETARY DEB HOLLAND, WHO IS MY COLLEAGUE AS A MEMBER OF CONGRESS.

SHE IS ALSO A NATIVE AMERICAN, AND UNDERSTAND ISSUES OF OPPRESSION COME ISSUES OF LACK OF SELF- DETERMINATION , AND IS KEENLY FOCUSED ON THAT FOR ALL OF THE AREAS IN WHICH THE INSULAR AREAS OPERATE.

I ALSO HAVE BEEN WORKING VERY MUCH, AND IF YOU LOOK YOU WILL SEE HOW MANY PIECES OF LEGISLATION MYSELF AND THE MEMBERS OF THE TERRITORIES WORK ON TOGETHER.

WE ROTATE OFFICES AND HAVE LUNCH TOGETHER.

WE COSPONSORED LEGISLATION THAT IS RELATED TO ALL THE TERRITORIES TOGETHER, AND WE USE ARE DIFFERENT POSITIONS ON DIFFERENT COMMITTEES TO TRY AND SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER.

HR 1, WHICH WAS PASSED IN THE HOUSE UNDER SPEAKER PELOSI , GAVE A MOVEMENT TO SELF-DETERMINATION FOR US, WHICH IS ABSOLUTELY IMPERATIVE TO ME SO THAT WE EVENTUALLY ARE NOT UNDER THE INSULAR AREAS ACT .

>> THANK YOU.

YOU HAVE A QUESTION?

>> YES.

WE DO HAVE TIME FOR ONE MORE QUESTION.

THE QUESTION IS THIS, TO WHICH YOU WOULD EACH HAVE 60 SECONDS TO RESPOND.

MS. SMITH, HE WOULD BEGIN FIRST.

WHAT IS MOST UNDERSTOOD BY VOTERS ABOUT THE ROLE OF THE DELEGATES, AND WHAT COULD YOU DO TO CLARIFY THAT?

60 SECONDS.

>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.

WHAT IS MOST UNDERSTOOD BY THE VOTERS?

MISUNDERSTOOD BY THE VOTERS IS THAT THE DELEGATE GETS THE MONEY AND HAS THE POWER TO DISTRIBUTE THE MONIES TO THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS .

THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS MISUNDERSTOOD.

IN MY ROLE AS A NEW DELEGATE TO THE U.S. CAPITAL REPRESENTATIVE, OR DELEGATE TO CONGRESS, I WOULD ADD THAT AS A REQUIREMENT THAT ONCE WE GET THE MONEY, THAT I AM ABLE TO COME DOWN ONCE A MONTH, OR HAVE PEOPLE ON THE GROUND TO WHERE THE MONEY GETS APPLIED CORRECTLY , SINCE THAT IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES THAT THE PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT, THAT THE MONIES COME IN, WE DON´T KNOW WHERE IT IS GOING, AND WE ARE STUCK IN A PLACE OF DESPAIR.

>> THANK YOU.

MR. PICKARD.

WHAT IS THE MOST MISUNDERSTOOD BY VOTERS ABOUT THE ROLE OF THE DELEGATE?

>> ONE OF THE MOST MISUNDERSTOOD THINGS AS IT PERTAINS TO THE ROLE OF THE DELEGATE, PEOPLE SAID, PICKARD, AS I CAMPAIGN AND TALK ABOUT WHAT I WANT TO DO, THEY WONDER WHY DO I HAVE TO FOLLOW THE MONEY?

THEY SAID, IT IS ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY AS IT PERTAINS TO A DELEGATE .

THAT IS NOT THE CASE.

WHAT THEY HAVE TO UNDERSTAND IS, WE HAVE TO FOLLOW THE MONEY TO MAKE SURE THE MONEY GOES WHERE IT IS ALLOTTED TO.

WE ALL WITNESSED THE FACT THAT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS HAVE BEEN BROUGHT DOWN FROM CONGRESS HERE TO THE VIRGIN ISLANDS, AND THEN IT DISAPPEARS.

IF I´M GOING TO BRING MONEY DOWN HERE FOR THE PEOPLE HERE IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS, IT IS HIGHLY IMPERATIVE I FOLLOW THAT MONEY AND MAKE SURE I HOLD EVERY SINGLE PERSON ACCOUNTABLE FOR EVERY PENNY OF THAT MONEY THAT COMES TO THE VIRGIN ISLANDS.

THE PEOPLE THAT WANT TO SEE SCHOOLS BUILT, INFRASTRUCTURE FINALLY STARTED.

YOU HAVE IN YOU DATED AS A BECOMES TOO PRODUCTS, BUT THAT IN YOUR DATING CONTINUES TO GO ON, AND ON, AND ON.

PEOPLE ARE TIRED AND WANT TO SEE AN END.

>> THERE ARE TWO AREAS THAT PEOPLE MISUNDERSTAND.

THE FIRST , AS WAS PREVIOUSLY STATED, IT IS ONE OF THE MORE FRUSTRATING PORTIONS OF BEING A MEMBER OF CONGRESS.

IN FACT, NOT JUST FOR THE VIRGIN ISLANDS, BUT ACROSS THE STATE.

ONES WHO GET FEDERAL SUPPORT, AND THEY DO NOT HAVE THE ABILITY IN ANY STATE OR ANY TERRITORY TO ACTUALLY UTILIZE THAT MONEY.

THAT SEPARATION OF POWER EXISTS WITH THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

ANOTHER MISUNDERSTANDING PEOPLE HAVE, IS WHY CONGRESS HAS IN FACT GIVEN US, HAS APPROPRIATED TO US THIS $15 BILLION.

THAT MONEY IS ACTUALLY NOT HERE IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS.

THAT MONEY IS WAITING AND AVAILABLE TO US WHILE THE PROJECTS ARE BEING DONE AND AS THE PROJECTS ARE COMPLETED .

MY FRUSTRATION HAS BEEN THAT ONLY RECENTLY HAS THERE BEEN AN AGREEMENT ON WHAT THE COST ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO BE, SO THAT THEY CAN BEGIN.

THE COST YEAR GIVEN TO US, THAT THERE IS AN END DATE, AND THAT IS 10 YEARS FROM NOW.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THE FINAL QUESTION.

THIS IS JUST THE WAY THE TIME GOES.

WE WILL START WITH YOU, MR. PICKARD IS THE FIRST PERSON FOR THE FINAL QUESTION.

PLEASE SPEAK TO ANY ISSUES OF PARTICULAR CONCERN THAT YOU WILL SEEK TO ADDRESS DURING YOUR TENURE AS CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVE IN THE NEXT CONGRESS, IF ELECTED, AND YOU HAVE 60 SECONDS.

CORRECT?

YES.

I´M SORRY, 90 SECONDS, MY FAULT .

>> IT IS A TOPIC WE HAVE NOT SPENT TIME DISCUSSING.

>> SOMETHING YOU WOULD THINK YOU WOULD WANT TO HAVE HAPPEN?

>> WE HAVE A MAJOR PROBLEM AS IT PERTAINS TO OUR ECONOMY, FOOD.

I´D LIKE TO ADDRESS A PROBLEM THAT IS REALLY AFFECTING US, ENERGY IS AFFECTING US.

THE LACK OF FOOD WE HAVE, HOW EXPENSIVE FOOD IS RIGHT NOW, AGRICULTURE.

WE NEED TO BE PRO-LIFE.

THESE ARE THINGS THAT CAN BE ADDRESSED.

I LIKE TO SEE THAT WE ARE EXEMPT FROM ANY KIND OF FOOD PRODUCTS COMING INTO THE VIRGIN ISLANDS, GOING INTO THE VIRGIN ISLANDS.

I LIKE TO SEE THAT WE HAVE SO MANY LOCAL VENDORS THAT HAVE SO MUCH LOCAL TALENT, THAT WOULD LIKE TO SEND PRODUCTS TO THE MAINLAND AND ALL THE DIFFERENT COUNTRIES, I´D LIKE TO SEE THEY ARE EXEMPT ANY TAXES PRESENTING THEIR SKILLS IN TRADE.

THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT EDIBLE PROGRAMS OUT THERE IN CONGRESS THAT WE CAN APPLY FOR, THAT THE PEOPLE OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS CAN BENEFIT FROM.

I´D LIKE TO SEE THESE FEDERAL PROGRAMS BE ADMINISTERED TO PEOPLE OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS.

I´D LIKE TO SEE SCHOOLS BE REBUILT.

I LIKE TO SEE EVERYTHING AFFECTING US RIGHT NOW--IF YOU ARE ON THE VIRGIN ISLANDS, YOU ARE BORN AND RAISED HERE, AND YOU ARE LIVING HERE, DO YOU KNOW FOR A FACT WHAT IS A PROBLEM AND AN ISSUE WE FACE EVERY SINGLE DAY.

YOU KNOW WHO DOES NOT KNOW ABOUT IT?

MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.

I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE THEM TO THE VIRGIN ISLANDS.

SOMETIMES, IT IS GOOD FOR THEM TO PHYSICALLY SEE WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT IN CONGRESS.

AND THEY HAVE TO KNOW, IT IS HIGHLY IMPERATIVE TO KNOW THE TO LIVE IN FOR GOD KNOWS HOW MANY YEARS.

IT NEEDS TO COME TO THAT.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, I CAN COMMENT?

>> YES.

>> THANK YOU.

THE TOPICS WE REALLY DID NOT DISCUSS, WHICH ARE REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME, BUT I´VE BEEN WORKING ON A LONG TIME, ONE IS HAVING.

I KNOW WE HAVE A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE AND OTHERS WHO CANNOT AFFORD HOUSING.

I´VE TALKED ABOUT A DISPUTE I HAD WITH THE GOVERNMENT ABOUT CBG FUNDING AND HOW IT WOULD BE USED.

I AM HOPEFUL IN THE NEXT CONGRESS THERE WILL BE MORE FUNDING TO ENSURE THAT HOUSING TAKES PLACE HERE IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS THAT PEOPLE CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF TAX BREAKS AND EXEMPTION SO THAT THEY HAVE FOR DOWN PAYMENTS FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE HOUSING.

ADDITIONALLY, JOB SKILLS AND JOB TRAINING.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A REBUILD OF TWO HOSPITALS OF OVER 10 SCHOOLS.

REFURBISHING 15 OTHER SCHOOLS HERE COME ALONG WITH ART UTILITY, ET CETERA, WE WILL NEED THE SUPPORT OF CONGRESS TO BE ABLE TO TRAIN VIRGIN ISLANDERS SO THAT WE DON´T JUST HAVE TO GET PEOPLE FROM OFF THE ISLAND.

ANOTHER AREA THAT I HAVE BEEN INCREDIBLY ENGAGED IN SINCE I CAME TO CONGRESS IS AGRICULTURE .

I HAVE BEEN REALLY GRATEFUL AND SUPPORTIVE THAT I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BRING DOWN MEMBERS OF THE CONGRESS AND EXPERTS TO GO AND DO FARM TOURS TO SUPPORT OUR FARMERS.

THIS YEAR, WE HAD 130 FARMERS FINALLY RECEIVE THEIR SETTLEMENT OF A LONG-STANDING DISCRIMINATION SUIT AGAINST BLACK FARMERS FOR $3 MILLION WAS GIVEN.

MONEY FOR WATER AND IRRIGATION PROJECTS.

THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS THAT ARE RIGHT ON THE GROUND THAT I WANT TO CONTINUE WORKING ON.

>> FINALLY, MS. SMITH.

YES.

OF COURSE.

WE ARE ASKING FOR YOU TO GIVE US ANY SPECIFIC ISSUES OF CONCERN THAT YOU WOULD THINK TO ADDRESS DURING YOUR TENURE AS A CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATE IN NEXT CONGRESS, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO.

>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.

MENTAL HEALTH.

MENTAL HEALTH IS VERY SERIOUS IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS .

WE SEE IT AND ACT LIKE WE DON´T SEE IT.

EVERY DAY, THERE IS SOMEONE WALKING UP AND DOWN THE STREET, THAT IS A PART OF OUR HEARING HUMAN RACE, A PART OF OUR FAMILY.

WE WOULD DEFINITELY ADDRESS THE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES WE ARE EXPERIENCING HERE.

HOMELESSNESS IS ALSO A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE HERE THAT WE ARE IGNORING.

WE NEED THE FUNDING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE ONLY SITUATION, WITH THIS LESS THAN HUNDRED THOUSAND PEOPLE, POPULATION, DOES NOT EXIST.

IT SHOULD NOT EXIST.

WE HAVE MORE THAN ENOUGH LAND TO WHERE WE CAN BUILD WHAT IS REQUIRED TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE HAS A HOME.

WITH A HOME, YOU WILL HAVE A BETTER MENTAL HEALTH.

>> THANK YOU, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

SO NOW, WE COME TO YOUR CLOSING YOU WILL EACH HAVE TWO MINUTES TO DO YOUR CAMPAIGN TALK TO TELL THE VOTERS WHY YOU SHOULD BE THE PERSON SELECTED TO BE OUR CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVE.

SO, WE BEGIN--WE CHOSE THE LAST TIME, YOU SELECTED NUMBER ONE.

>> GOOD DAY, FAMILY, VIRGIN ISLANDERS.

I AM IDA SMITH, NUMBER 3 ON THE BALLOT FOR U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

I SHOULD BE YOUR CHOSEN DELEGATE, BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN REPRESENTING YOU FOR OVER 20 YEARS, JUST IN THE BACKGROUND.

I AM STEPPING UP TO THE PLATE, BECAUSE I HAVE INTEGRITY THAT DOES NOT QUIT .

I WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE MONIES THAT COME TO THE VIRGIN ISLANDS.

I AM A MOTHER OF THREE, A GRANDMOTHER OF THREE.

I PUT GOD FIRST , THE LOVE OF GOD FIRST, AND THE LAW OF MAN.

I BELIEVE IN THE RULE OF LAW, AND I WILL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THE LAW AND DO WHAT IS REQUIRED FOR THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE , AS THEY ASK FOR IT, I WILL ENSURE THAT THEIR NEEDS ARE MET .

THAT IS WHY YOU SHOULD VOTE FOR ME ON NOVEMBER 5th, BECAUSE I GET WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE, DONE .

AS A WOMAN, AS A MOTHER, AS A PERSON THAT IS NOT INTO A POLITICAL AFFILIATION, THAT IS ON BOUGHT AND UNBOSSED , AS THE LATE SHIRLEY CHISHOLM FROM NEW YORK WAS.

I WILL DO WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE IN THESE VIRGIN ISLANDS, FINALLY.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION, AND I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR VOTE.

>> THANK YOU, AND MR. PICKARD.

>> MY NAME IS RON PICKARD, AND I AM ON YOUR BALLOT.

I AM A HUSBAND, FATHER OF TWO BEAUTIFUL KIDS, WONDERFUL WIFE, AND THEY LOOK UP TO ME TO DO THE RIGHT THING.

I HAD A TREAT PLAN VALUE IN MY LIFE, GOD, FAMILY, AND LAND.

I WILL TELL YOU WITHOUT GOD, THERE CAN BE NO FAMILY AND NO LAND.

AT SOME POINT, WE HAVE TO FACE REALITY.

THE INCUMBENT HAS BEEN IN OFFICE GOING ON ALMOST 10 YEARS.

AND THIS IS THE RESULT OF ALL THE FEDERALLY FUNDED MONEY.

YOU CANNOT DENY THE FACTS.

NOT ONE SCHOOL HAS EVER BEEN REBUILT.

NOT ONE.

MONEY BROUGHT DOWN FOR ENERGY , YET WE ARE STILL EXPERIENCING AN ENERGY CRISIS HERE IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS.

WE HAVE FOOD CRISIS HERE IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS.

WATER CONTAMINATION IS PERTAINING TO LEAD CRISIS HERE IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS.

ALL I WANTED WAS TO OPEN IT BACK UP THE SERVICES SO THAT WE CAN ALL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE SERVICES THAT WE ARE SUPPOSED TO HAVE .

IN ORDER TO DO THAT WHILE YOU ARE IN CONGRESS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IT IS IMPERATIVE , YOU MUST BE ABLE TO GET ALONG WITH BOTH REPUBLICANS, AS WELL AS DEMOCRATS.

WE HAVE TO REPRESENT THE VIRGIN ISLANDS IN A RESPECTFUL, AND PROFESSIONAL MANNER AND ESTABLISH A RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR MEMBERS IN CONGRESS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PEOPLE IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS.

IN FACT, WHEN WE DO INTRODUCE THE BILL, WE HAVE A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF THOSE BILLS BEING PASSED TO PROTECT THE PEOPLE OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS IN A POSITIVE MANNER.

WE WANT ROADS.

GIVE US OUR ROADS .

GIVE US OUR BRAND-NEW SCHOOLS BACK.

GIVE US RELIABLE ENERGY BACK.

REDUCE THE CRIME DOWN HERE IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS.

A LOT OF THESE THINGS WILL TAKE MONEY, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.

THAT MONEY IS GOING TO COME FROM CONGRESS, BUT YOU HAVE GOT TO FOLLOW THE MONEY.

IF YOU DON´T, WHAT WILL HAPPEN HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS, IT WILL DISAPPEAR.

RON PICKARD, NUMBER 1 ON YOUR BALLOT.

>> THANK YOU.

THANK YOU ALL FOR LISTENING AND FOR CONSIDERING US AS YOUR DELEGATES TO CONGRESS.

I HAVE TO TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MYSELF.

AS I SAID, I AM A MOTHER.

I HAVE FIVE CHILDREN.

I AM A WIFE .

MORE IMPORTANTLY, I AM A DAUGHTER.

BOTH OF MY PARENTS WERE BORN ON ST. CROIX, AND FELL IN LOVE, AND HAD TO FOR ECONOMIC REASONS, LEAVE THE VIRGIN ISLANDS, THEIR HOME, A PLACE MY FAMILY HAS BEEN FOR 3 CENTURIES.

I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN NEW YORK.

I WANT TO SAY TO THOSE FAMILIES WHO HAD TO LEAVE AFTER THE STORMS BECAUSE OF THE CLOSURE OF, FOR SCHOOL, AND HAVE HAD CHILDREN, I WANT TO SAY THIS TO THEIR CHILDREN, WHETHER YOU ARE BORN IN ATLANTA, TAMPA --IN FACT, SOME OF YOU WERE BORN IN ST. VINCENT, AS MY FATHER-IN-LAW WAS , OR EVEN THE WEST BANK , AND OTHER PLACES, OR RIGHT HERE IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS, IT IS NOT ABOUT WHERE YOU WERE BORN, IT IS ABOUT WHO YOU ARE, IT IS ABOUT WHAT YOU HAVE DONE.

I HAVE DEDICATED MY LIFE TO PUBLIC SERVICE, AS A PROSECUTOR, AS A VOLUNTEER, AS AN ATTORNEY WORKING ON THE HEEL .

AND YES, THE GREATEST HONOR TO BE YOUR DELICATE TO CONGRESS .

AND I HIT THE GROUND RUNNING AND I HAVE BEEN RUNNING EVER SINCE, ADVOCATING, FIGHTING FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS , ENSURING THAT THERE ARE RESOURCES AVAILABLE, WHETHER IT COMES TO SCHOOL, TO FIGHT CRIME, TO HAVING JOBS, HOUSING , THAT HAS BEEN MY JOB AND I HAVE BEEN EFFECTIVE IN MY JOB.

I WAS INVITED AND LED MORE THAN 100 MEMBERS OF CONGRESS IN BOTH PARTIES IN THE YEARS I HAVE BEEN HERE.

THEY HAVE SEEN WHERE WE ARE, THEY KNOW THE VIRGIN ISLANDS, BECAUSE THEY KNOW ME.

THEY KNOW THE WORK AND INTEGRITY I BRING IN EACH ONE OF MY OFFERINGS.

THAT IS WHY I AM ASKING FOR YOUR VOTE AND SUPPORT TO CONTINUE THE WORK WE HAVE BEGUN.

ALLOW ME TO CONTINUE TO BE YOUR DELICATE TO CONGRESS.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH, CANDIDATES.

I THINK OUR COMMUNITY NOW HAS A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF YOU AND WHERE YOU AND STAND.

I WANT TO THANK WTJX AND THE STAFF FOR TODAY´S PROGRAM AND OUR MODERATOR, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE .

THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS HOPES THIS PROGRAM HAS HELPED YOU, THE VOTER IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE CANDIDATE FOR OUR CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVE IN THE 119th CONGRESS, AND HAS INFORMED YOUR VOTE HERE THE LEAGUE REMINDS YOU THAT EVERY VOTE DOESN´T COUNT.

DURING ELECTIONS, WE OFTEN SEE AN INDIVIDUAL WHO BARELY LOSES, AND WISHES, IF ONLY A FEW MORE PERSONS HAD VOTED.

LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD BY YOUR VOTE, BECAUSE IN A DEMOCRACY, IT IS THE VOTER WHO IS IN THE DRIVERS SEAT.

BUT YOU KNOW, YOUR RESPONSIBILITY DOES NOT END ON ELECTION NIGHT.

THAT IS NOT THE WAY IT WORKS.

YOU HAVE TO KEEP THE PERSONS YOU ELECTED ACCOUNTABLE.

IT IS NOT THEY CAN DO OR NOT DO WHAT YOU THOUGHT THEY WOULD DO.

ATTEND THE HEARING, OFFER COMMENTS ON THEIR PROPOSED BILLS, ATTEND THEIR TOWN HALLS, INVITE THEM TO SPEAK AT YOUR CLOTHES OR ORGANIZATIONS, MONITOR WHAT THEY SAY AND HOW THEY VOTE AT MEETINGS.

IT IS THE ONLY WAY TO GET THE CHANGE YOU SEEK.

>>> THANK YOU ALL FOR WATCHING.

I AM GWEN-MARIE MOOLENAAR, PRESIDENT OF THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS SAYING, BOTH EARLY OR VOTE NOVEMBER 5th, AND KEEP YOUR HANDS ON THE WHEEL.

AS A VAULTER, YOU ARE IN THE DRIVER SEAT.

>>> THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

>>> THE VIEWS EXPRESSED ON THIS PROGRAM ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF WTJX, ITS STAFF, OR UNDERWRITING.

>>> CLOSED CAPTIONING FOR THIS PROGRAM WAS UNDERWRITTEN BY AARP IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS.

>>> I THINK I WANT TO BE REMEMBERED, FIRST OF ALL, AS A GOD-FEARING MAN .

SOMETIMES, I WILL BE KNOWN AS SOMEONE THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN A LITTLE OF A PAIN TO GET ALONG WITH.

I DON´T THINK THERE´S ANYBODY THAT CAN SAY, I DID NOT SHOW THEM LOVE.

HOW ABOUT YOU?

>> I WANT TO BE REMEMBERED AS A HARD WORKER, SO EVERYONE I CARED AND TREAT PEOPLE WITH KINDNESS AND RESPECT, BECAUSE WE ALL DESERVE THAT.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE FUTURE, WHAT ARE YOU MOST SCARED OF AND WHAT ARE YOU MOST HOPEFUL FOR?

>> I THINK I AM MOST SCARED OF MY GRAND YOUNG INS, AND WHAT THEY MAY HAVE TO DEAL WITH IN OUR FUTURE.

NUCLEAR WAR, OUR RESOURCES BEING DEPLETED.

>> WHAT ARE YOU MOST AFRAID OF IS THAT WE WILL KEEP GETTING DIVIDED .

ALL WRAPPED UP IN THAT, I AM HOPEFUL BECAUSE YOU AND I COME FROM DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS, MAY BE DIFFERENT POLITICAL VIEWS, MAYBE DIFFERENT RELIGIOUS VIEWS.

NONE OF THAT HAS EVER STOPPED US FROM BEING A FAMILY.

>> IF WE STILL LIVED IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES FROM YEARS AGO, OR THE WAY THINGS WERE YEARS AGO, WE WOULD PROBABLY NEVER KNOW EACH OTHER.

THERE WERE SOME THINGS THAT I TALKED WHEN I WAS A YOUNG MAN THAT WOULD HAVE NEVER ALLOWED US TO EVEN HAVE A CONVERSATION, BUT I THANK GOD THAT HE GAVE ME THE KNOWLEDGE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT LOVE REALLY MEANS.

>> DOES IT BOTHER YOU THAT WE DON´T AGREE ABOUT POLITICS?

>> NO, IT DON´T BOTHER ME.

BEING DIFFERENT SHOWS US THE DIFFERENT SIDE OF THINGS.

WE MAY DIFFER IN A LOT OF THINGS, BUT WE AGREED ON A LOT OF THINGS AND I THINK WE LISTEN TO EACH OTHER ON A LOT OF THINGS.

YOU ARE PRECIOUS TO ME, YOU REALLY ARE.