Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett, a member of the House Ways and Means, Budget and Agriculture committees released the following statement on the successful passage by the House of Representatives of federal government funding legislation (H.R.8294) that includes the nine community projects specifically for the Virgin Islands:
“I am very pleased that nine of my office’s Community Project Funding requests were approved by the full House of Representatives as we continue to make progress in the legislative appropriations process to fund the federal government over Fiscal Year 2023. Our project funding requests specifically focus on providing solutions through social services, particularly tackling homelessness, behavioral and mental health issues, as well as improving infrastructure in the territory.
“The requests reflect the great priority my office places on the need for education, health care, community development and providing more economic opportunities in our most vulnerable populations. Funding for the following nine community projects was passed this week while funding for the other five will be passed by the House at a later time.
“The nine community project funding requests passed this week are:
Mental Health and Homelessness:
Community First! Services for Homeless: Program to build homes for the homeless and provide support services that allow those who have spent years on the streets to find a path to permanent housing. Project to be carried out by the non-profit Liberty Place Inc.
Amount provided: $1,964,210
Bright Path Holistic: Program of after school and mental health services for public housing residents by the Virgin Islands Housing Authority.
Amount provided: $900,000
St. Croix Foundation
Christiansted Sunday Market Square: Revitalization of three historic properties in Sunday Market Square in Christiansted, which will house commercial spaces and an innovative nonprofit coworking space on ground floors, and low- to moderate-income housing units on the upper floors and behind. Project to be carried out by the non-profit St. Croix Foundation.
Amount provided: $1,059,152
Army Corps:
St. Thomas Harbor Project Study: Post-authorization change report to Congress (study) required for the Army Corps to resume the project for navigation in St. Thomas harbor.
Amount provided: $200,000
Christiansted Harbor Project Study: Post-authorization change report to Congress (study) required for the Army Corps to resume the project for navigation in Christiansted harbor.
Amount provided: $200,000
Airports:
St. Thomas Airport Commuter Wing: Project for additional space for expansion of King Airport’s current passenger terminal facilities, to be created by the renovation and expansion of the current inter-island terminal area, allowing for the inclusion of jet bridges for off-island air passenger traffic. Project to be carried out by the Virgin Islands Port Authority.
Amount provided: $4,000,000
St. Thomas Airfield Safety Drainage: Project for the design and construction of a concrete lining for the drainage gut to ensure that the airport remains in compliance with FAA requirements and improve the safety of operating on the airfield at Cyril E. King Airport. Project to be carried out by the Virgin Islands Port Authority.
Amount provided: $4,000,000
St. Croix Aircraft Parking Aprons: Project for rehabilitation of existing aircraft parking aprons to ensure the continued safety of airport operations at Henry E. Rohlsen Airport. The project will be carried out by the Virgin Islands Port Authority.
Amount provided: $4,000,000
St. Croix Airport Runway: Project for rehabilitation of the existing runway at Henry E. Rohlsen Airport to improve the pavement strength and ensure safe operations. Project to be carried out by the Virgin Islands Port Authority.
Amount provided: $4,000,000
“I am very pleased by House passage of my office’s FY2023 Community Project Funding requests. I am also pleased that this House-passed funding legislation (H.R.8294) includes other important funding for the Virgin Islands and other insular areas of the U.S.
“For example, it includes my amendment to provide $10 million in funding for the Micro-Grants for Food Security Program. This is a program that helps the Virgin Islands and other non-contiguous areas to increase the quantity and quality of locally grown food through small-scale gardening, herding and livestock operations.
“This legislation also contains an $7.4 million increase to territorial assistance by the Department of the Interior to an overall level of $111 million for the small U.S. territories. There are also funding increases for energy and environmental protection programs, infrastructure programs, housing programs, research and development, and more funding for federal security assistance to the Caribbean basin.
“There must now be further agreement with the Senate on annual government funding with the inclusion of funding for community projects such as those approved by the House today before it may be presented to the president for signature into law.”
View the full list of FY2023 Community Project Funding requests on Congresswoman Plaskett’s website.
