Legislative Activity

This bill officially designates the Christiansted Bandstand at the Christiansted National Historic Site in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, as the "Peter G. Thurland, Sr. Bandstand." All future federal references to this landmark will reflect this new name.

This bill officially designates the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Saint Thomas, United States Virgin Islands, as the "Sergeant First Class Floyd E. Lake Department of Veterans Affairs Community-Based Outpatient Clinic."

This bill officially designates the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Saint Croix, United States Virgin Islands, as the "Lieutenant Colonel David C. Canegata III Department of Veterans Affairs Community-Based Outpatient Clinic." All future official references to this facility will reflect this new name.

This resolution reaffirms the commitment to democracy and self-determination for the 3.6 million residents of U.S. territories, acknowledging that they are currently denied the full rights promised by the nation’s founding principles. It formally rejects the racist legal precedents of the *Insular Cases* and declares that the ideals of equality and government by consent must apply to all people living under the U.S. flag.

The Territories Health Equity Act of 2025 fundamentally restructures federal healthcare funding for U.S. territories by eliminating Medicaid funding caps and establishing new hospital support. It also reforms Medicare payment formulas in territories, particularly Puerto Rico, and creates pathways for residents to access affordable health insurance coverage. Overall, the bill aims to increase financial stability for territorial healthcare systems and improve access and affordability for residents.

The Farm to School Act of 2025 revises and expands the Patrick Leahy farm to school program to increase access to local foods in eligible institutions, including land-grant colleges. The bill updates definitions, increases authorized funding to $10 million, and prioritizes grants for projects serving Tribal communities and those incorporating culturally appropriate education. It also mandates research and reporting to identify and eliminate regulatory barriers to local food procurement.

This bill amends federal law to officially include the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico in the regulations governing commercial motor vehicle safety. It grants these territories eligibility to issue commercial driver's licenses under federal standards. Furthermore, the legislation provides a five-year grace period during which these territories will be exempt from federal highway fund penalties related to certain commercial driver's license requirements while they work toward full compliance.

The Territory Health Revitalization Act aims to strengthen health resources in U.S. territories by reserving a dedicated five percent of specific federal block grant funds for them. This legislation also removes a previous funding restriction for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and guarantees that at least two eligible grants will be awarded to organizations physically located within the territories. All provisions of this Act are set to take effect on October 1, 2025.

The HOPE for Haitian Prosperity Act of 2025 strengthens trade benefits for Haiti by extending preferential duty treatment until 2037 and increasing annual labor compliance reviews focusing on wages and working conditions. The bill also mandates the U.S. Trade Representative to provide targeted technical assistance aimed at increasing and diversifying Haitian exports to the United States. These measures seek to enhance Haiti's economic competitiveness while ensuring adherence to core labor standards.

This bill establishes a Congressional Task Force dedicated to studying and addressing the voting rights of U.S. citizens residing in U.S. territories. The Task Force will investigate barriers to equal federal voting rights and representation for these citizens. It is required to submit a final report with recommendations to Congress within one year of enactment.

This bill directs the Secretary of Commerce to assess the value, cost, and feasibility of constructing a new trans-Atlantic submarine fiber optic cable connecting the contiguous United States, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Ghana, and Nigeria. The resulting report must analyze the digital security, national security implications, and economic benefits of this proposed connection. The assessment will also examine the readiness of existing infrastructure and explore partnerships with trusted entities for deployment.

This resolution expresses the support of Congress for designating the last Tuesday of April as "APOL1-Mediated Kidney Disease (AMKD) Awareness Day." It highlights the disproportionate impact of AMKD, often linked to APOL1 gene variants common in people of African descent, on kidney health. The bill encourages public education and genetic testing to help identify at-risk individuals early. Ultimately, it aims to raise awareness to reduce kidney disease disparities and promote further research into specific treatments.

The "Broadband Internet for Small Ports Act" prioritizes broadband projects for precision agriculture on cropland and ranchland, and increases broadband availability in rural ports. It increases the maximum grant amount for projects serving rural areas and requires the Secretary to confirm the eligibility of unserved rural communities for funding. The Act also mandates communication with the FCC to ensure service levels align with universal service standards, requires timely feedback on funding applications, and sets aside funds for oversight and accountability.

The Virgin Islands Visa Waiver Act of 2025 expands the existing visa waiver program currently available in Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands to include the U.S. Virgin Islands. This legislation allows the Secretary of Homeland Security to waive visa requirements for short-term business or pleasure visitors from specific countries, provided that strict security and administrative controls are met. The program aims to boost tourism and economic activity while maintaining rigorous oversight and safety standards for the territory.

The Territorial Tax Parity and Fairness Act amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude bona fide U.S. Virgin Islands residents from being classified as "United States persons" when calculating ownership thresholds for Controlled Foreign Corporations (CFCs) organized under Virgin Islands law. This change aims to provide tax parity by ensuring that local residents are not unfairly penalized by CFC ownership rules. The legislation applies to tax years beginning after December 31, 2024.

The Territorial Economic Recovery Act aims to boost economic growth in U.S. territories by providing targeted tax relief. It amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude income earned by qualified corporations in U.S. possessions from the global intangible low-taxed income (GILTI) tax. This change incentivizes active business operations within Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and other U.S. territories.

The Territorial Tax Parity Act of 2025 amends the Internal Revenue Code to adjust how income from U.S. possessions is taxed. It prevents residents of these territories from excluding income from U.S. taxation if it is attributable to a fixed place of business within the United States. These updates to sourcing rules are set to take effect for tax years beginning after December 31, 2024.

This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to redirect federal excise taxes collected on fuel produced in the Virgin Islands and imported into the United States. Instead of entering the U.S. Treasury, these revenues will be transferred directly to the treasury of the Virgin Islands. This change is set to take effect for all applicable fuel shipments entering the U.S. after December 31, 2024.

The Territorial Tax Parity and Clarification Act updates federal tax sourcing rules regarding the sale of personal property within U.S. possessions. By amending the Internal Revenue Code, this legislation aims to provide greater clarity and consistency in how these gains are treated for tax purposes.

The Territorial Tax Equity and Economic Growth Act of 2025 updates federal tax laws regarding residency and income sourcing for U.S. territories, including Puerto Rico, Guam, and American Samoa. The bill establishes a stricter "substantial presence" test for bona fide residency and clarifies how income earned outside of these territories is classified for tax purposes. These changes aim to modernize tax administration for individuals and businesses operating within U.S. possessions starting in the 2025 tax year.