CHRISTIANSTED — Governor Albert Bryan issued the following statement regarding $21 million in Community Project Funding (CPF) requests he forwarded to Delegate Stacey Plaskett to submit to Congress for consideration under the $1.5 trillion Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2022, which President Biden signed into law in March: “Congressional earmarks for federally funded local projects are back, […]
Tag: President Joe Biden
U.S. Supreme Court Allows Puerto Rico’s Exclusion From Welfare Program
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court this week rejected a bid to extend a federal program offering benefits to low-income elderly, blind and disabled people to residents of Puerto Rico, finding that Congress had the authority to prevent those living in the American territory from receiving the assistance. The justices ruled 8-1 in favor of […]
Social Security Administration Releases Equity Action Plan
The Social Security Administration released its first Equity Action Plan on Thursday, supporting President Biden’s whole-of-government equity agenda to advance equity, civil rights, racial justice, and equal opportunity for all. On January 20, 2021, The President signed an Executive Order, Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government. The Executive Order […]
Governor Says Online St. Croix Refinery Could Be Key To Relieving National Gas Price Crisis
CHARLOTTE AMALIE — Governor Albert Bryan issued the following statement about the potential for the St. Croix refinery to assist the United States in its national gas price relief efforts: “The United States faces unprecedented challenges on the energy front. Supply chain issues associated with the pandemic, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and general inflationary […]
Biden Administration Slaps Travel Bans On 8 Cuban Officials
WASHINGTON — The Biden administration has placed a travel ban on eight Cuban officials it says have been complicit in the repression of opposition protesters and other dissidents. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced visa restrictions Thursday in a statement that condemned an ongoing crackdown on participants in demonstrations that began last July and called prison […]
Bryan Thanks President Biden, Congress For Passage of U.S. Infrastructure Bill
CHARLOTTE AMALIE — Governor Albert Bryan thanked President Biden and the U.S. Congress for working together to pass the president’s $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill, which will help the local government maintain its efforts to restore the territory to full economic recovery. “This is a landmark package of legislation that will bring the country, as well […]
Bryan Orders Flags Flown at Half-Staff In Honor Of Former Secretary Of State Colin Powell
CHRISTIANSTED –– Following President Biden’s order to have all U.S. flags flown at half-staff, Governor Albert Bryan has ordered that all Virgin Islands flags in the territory fly at half-staff as well in memory of former Secretary of State Colin Powell until sunset on Friday, October 22, 2021. All flags should be flown at half-staff all day this week until sunset. Government House asked to please […]
Biden Awards The Territory $5.6M To Combat The Impact of Climate Change
CHARLOTTE AMALIE — The territory is poised to receive just over $5.6 million of the $3 billion recently approved by President Biden to increase the nation’s resilience to the impact of climate change. This significant investment has been made available for natural hazard mitigation measures across all 59 major disaster declarations issued due to the […]
DHS Employees Must Obey Biden’s Vaccine Mandate Or Be Terminated For Cause
CHARLOTTE AMALIE — The U.S. Virgin Islands government agency with the second-most employees says it will follow a sweeping new federal plan to fight COVID-19 that requires teachers and healthcare workers to be vaccinated, among other measures announced by President Joe Biden last week. “We will implement the president’s mandates in line with directives provided […]
St. Lucia’s New Prime Minister Wants U.S. ‘Climate Cash’ To Pay For Stinky Seaweed
CASTRIES — St. Lucia’s new prime minister, Philip Pierre, has urged the United States and other rich nations to ramp up climate finance and disburse funds more quickly to vulnerable Caribbean nation states, as “fast and furious” hurricanes become the new normal. The tiny eastern Caribbean nation of St. Lucia and other island states in […]