,,iv  #aac? ,,congress  #a/ ,session    
,h4 ,,con4 ,,res4 #ch  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se   
,,( ,,repres5tatives  ,may #bb1 #bjac   
,mrs4 ,*ri/5s5 submitt$ ! foll[+        
concurr5t resolution2 :i* 0 ref]r$ to ! 
,committee on ,natural ,res\rces1 & 9   
addition to ! ,committee on ,=eign      
,affairs1 = a p]iod to be subsequ5tly   
det]m9$ by ! ,speak]1 9 ea* case =      
consid]ation ( su* provisions z fall )9 
! jurisdiction ( ! committee conc]n$    
,,concurr5t ,,resolution  ,recogniz+ &  
celebrat+ ! #ajj? anniv]s>y ( ! ,virg9  
,isl&s becom+ a "p ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates4   
,:]eas on ,m>* #ca1 #bjag1 ! ,unit$     
,/ates ,virg9 ,isl&s w celebrate #ajj   
ye>s ( be+ a "p ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates       
family1 hav+ be5 pur*as$ f ,d5m>k =     
#be1jjj1jjj = /rategic reasons1 "o ( :i*
 0 ! def5se ( ! ,panama ,canal2 ,:]eas !
 ,unit$ ,/ates ,virg9 ,isl&s w use ?is  
anniv]s>y to commemorate its hi/ory1    
culture1 & div]sity2 ,:]eas "o ( !      
e>lie/ hi/orical acc\nts ( ! ,virg9     
,isl&s beg9s ) its aborig9al inhabitants

 on ,/4 ,croix :o engag$ ,*ri/oph]      
,columbus on 8 second voyage to ! ,new  
,_w 9 #adic2 ,:]eas ! #c l>ge/ ,virg9   
,isl&s1 p>ticul>ly ,/4 ,croix1 7 rul$ by
 #g flags ov] ! #ejj-ye> hi/ory2 ,:]eas 
,d5m>k began acquir+ ! isl&s t 7 to     
become kn[n z ! ,dani% ,we/ ,indies ) ! 
f\nd+ ( its fir/ p]man5t colony on !    
isl& ( ,/4 ,?omas 9 #affe1 to be foll[$ 
by ! isl& ( ,/4 ,john 9 #agag1 & ! isl& 
( ,/4 ,croix 9 #agcc2 ,:]eas 9 a        
#bej-ye> span ( hi/ory1 ,d5m>k coloniz$ 
! #c isl&s z a "p ( ! sug> trade :i*    
includ$ p>ticipation 9 ! ,transatlantic 
,slave ,trade & a plantation-bas$ sy/em 
:i* cont9u$ until ! #ahdh slave         
rebellion & emancipation2 ,:]eas !      
decl9e ( ! sug> indu/ry 9 ! ,virg9      
,isl&s l$ to ,d5m>k seek+ a buy] = !    
,dani% ,we/ ,indies2 ,:]eas ! ,unit$    
,/ates seek+ a /rategic base to protect 
its assets 9 ! ,c>ibbean1 to include !  
newly built ,panama ,canal1 pur*as$ !   
,dani% ,we/ ,indies = #be1jjj1jjj 9     
gold1 ?r\gh ! ,treaty ( ,cession (      

#aiag1 :i* confirm$ t ! civil rights &  
political /atus ( ! inhabitants ( !     
isl&s w\ld be det]m9$ by ! ,unit$ ,/ates
 ,congress2 ,:]eas ! transf] ( ! ,dani% 
,we/ ,indies to ! ,unit$ ,/ates took    
place on ,m>* #ca1 #aiag1 ) c]emonies on
 ,/4 ,?omas & ,/4 ,croix & ?is c]emony  
is commemorat$ ye>ly 9 ! n[ ,unit$      
,/ates ,virg9 ,isl&s z ,transf] ,day2   
,:]eas ! p ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,virg9     
,isl&s are desc5dants ( ! ,european     
coloniz]s1 ! enslav$ ,africans1 !       
aborig9al inhabitants1 & p f all ov] !  
_w1 mo/ notably1 ,pu]to ,rico1 ! wid]   
,c>ibbean1 ,s\? ,am]ica1 & ! ,unit$     
,/ates2 ,:]eas ! ,virg9 ,isl&s hi/ory ) 
! ,unit$ ,/ates began z e>ly z !        
,am]ican ,revolution :5 ,/4 ,croix-br$  
,alex&] ,hamilton rose to become "o ( ! 
lead]s ( ! revolution & ! fir/ ,secret>y
 ( ! ,treasury ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates2 ,:]eas
 ,/4 ,croix plantation own] ,abraham    
,m>koe 0 a f9anci] ( ! ,am]ican         
,revolution1 & design$ ! ,philadelphia  
,light ,horse ,calv>y's flag1 :i* may h 

s]v$ z ! patt]n = ! #ac /ripes 9 !      
pres5t ,am]ican flag2 ,:]eas ! ,dani%   
,=t 9 ,fr$]ik/$ 0 ! fir/ milit>y        
in/itution to salute ! new ,unit$ ,/ates
 colors1 recogniz+ ! indep5d5ce ( ! #ac 
=m] ,briti% colonies2 ,:]eas s9ce !     
,transf] 9 #aiag1 ! p ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates 
,virg9 ,isl&s1 h made significant       
contributions to ! ,unit$ ,/ates1       
includ+--  7#a7 ,alonzo ,g4 ,moron1     
,presid5t ( ,hampton ,univ]sity f #aidi 
to #aiei2  7#b7 ,alton ,a4 ,adams1      
musician & fir/ ,black b&ma/] ( ! ,unit$
 ,/ates ,navy2  7#c7 ,ar?ur ,a4         
,s*omburg1 bibliophile1 hi/orian1       
curator1 & activi/ :o rese>*$ & rais$   
aw>5ess ( ! great contributions t       
,african-,lat9 ,am]icans &              
,african-,am]icans h made to society1 0 
kn[n z ! ,fa!r ( ,black ,hi/ory1 & 8    
collection ( lit]ature & art is n[ "p ( 
! ,s*omburg ,c5t] = ,rese>* 9 ,black    
,culture at ! ,new ,york ,public ,libr>y
 9 ,h>lem2  7#d7 ,a%ley ,l4 ,tott51     
organiz] & (fic] ( ! ,bro!rhood (       

,sleep+ ,c> ,port]s & ! lead] ( !       
,am]ican ,virg9 ,isl&s ,civic &         
,indu/rial ,association ( ,new ,york2   
7#e7 ,camille ,piss>o1 arti/1 fr5*      
impressioni/ pa9t]1 born on ,/4 ,?omas (
 ,jewi% l9age :]e a royal ord9ance made 
public 9 ,d5m>k 9 #ahad1 protect$ &     
lib]at$ ,jews2  7#f7 ,casp] ,hol/e91    
humanit>ian & philan?ropi/1 d$icat$ 8   
ef=ts to advocat+ = improv+ ! /&>d (    
liv+ = ,virg9 ,isl&]s & a great] degree 
( self-gov]nm5t to ! isl&s2  7#g7       
,claude ,a4 ,b5nie ,b5jam91 musician1   
compos]1 & ent]ta9] :o compos$ musical  
!mes = sev]al ,walt ,disney movies2     
7#h7 ,edw>d ,wilmot ,blyd51             
intellectual1 educator1 l+ui/1 cl]gyman1
 au?or1 /atesman1 college presid5t &    
fa!r ( ,pan-,africanism2  7#i7          
,honorable ,melv9 ,h4 ,evans1 fir/      
elect$ ,gov]nor ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,virg9
 ,isl&s & ,ambassador to ,tr9idad       
,tobago2  7#aj7 ,honorable ,ron de      
,lugo1 fir/ ,delegate to ,congress ( !  
,unit$ ,/ates ,virg9 ,isl&s1 s]v$ #dj   

ye>s 9 public s]vice1 locally &         
nationally1 f\ght to increase ! rights &
 privileges = t]ritorial delegates1 :ile
 work+ = ! full political /atus ( !     
,virg9 ,isl&s1 & s]v$ z ! *airman ( !   
subcommittee on ,insul> & ,int]national 
,affairs2  7#aa7 ,honorable ,t]5ce ,a4  
,todman1 c>e] ,ambassador s]v$ ! ,unit$ 
,/ates across ! globe = almo/ #ej ye>s &
 has receiv$ ! ,presid5tial ,di/+ui%$   
,s]vice ,aw>d1 ! ,national ,public      
,s]vice ,aw>d1 ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,/ate's    
,sup]ior ,s]vice ,honor ,aw>d1 ,director
 ,g5]al's ,cup1 & ! ,secret>y ( ,/ate's 
,di/+ui%$ ,s]vice ,aw>d1 9 addition be+ 
decorat$ by ! ,gov]nm5ts ( ,arg5t9a1    
,d5m>k1 ,spa91 ,*ad1 & ! ,unit$ ,/ates  
,virg9 ,isl&s2  7#ab7 ,hub]t ,h4        
,h>rison1 writ]1 tea*] orator1 editor1  
labor lead]1 & ,r5aissance ,man2  7#ac7 
,j4 ,raymond ,jones1 politician1 p[]    
brok]1 & ,tammany ,hall ,*ief2  7#ad7   
,morris ,simmonds1 /udi$ 9 ,g]many at ! 
univ]sities at ,turb+51 ,leipzig1       
,mun/]1 & ,kiel1 receiv$ 8 m$ical       

degree1 specializ$ 9 pa?ology1 & aft] 8 
dea?1 _h a disease ( ! pituit>y gl&1    
,simmonds ,disease1 nam$ aft] him2      
7#ae7 ,nella ,l>s51 "o ( ! mo/          
influ5tial noveli/s ( ! ,h>lem          
,r5aissance2  7#af7 ,so/h5ese ,behn1    
soldi]1 indu/riali/1 bus9ess innovator1 
& f\nd] ( ! ,int]national ,telephone &  
,telegraph ,company2 &  7#ag7 ,william  
,leidesdorff1 free ,black f ,/4 ,croix1 
sea capta91 m]*ant1 trad]1 l& own]1     
civic lead]1 e>ly ,cali=nia pione]1 &   
reg>d$ z ! fir/ ,black millionaire 9 !  
,unit$ ,/ates2  ,:]eas ,virg9 ,isl&]s   
su* z ,calv9 ,pick]+1 ,elrod ,h5dricks1 
,emile ,griffi?1 ,horace ,cl>ke1 ,joe   
,*ri/oph]1 ,julian ,jackson1 ,kelsey    
,gramm]1 ,kev9 ,krigg]1 ,midre ,cumm+s1 
,raja ,bell1 ,saba ,johnson1 ,tim       
,duncan1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,diplomat        
,ullmont ,l4 ,james1 ,sr41 ,victor      
,lebron1 & o!rs h made sub/antial       
contributions to gov]nm5t1 sports1 & !  
arts 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates2 ,:]eas ! mission
 = self-det]m9ation & con/itutional re=m

 cont9ues today2 ,:]eas betwe5 #aibd &  
#aibg1 sev]al propos$ bills =           
con/itutional re=m 7 discuss$ by        
congressional committees on insul>      
affairs1 ?\gh imm$iate action didn't    
manife/ until ! creation ( ! fir/       
,organic ,act ( #aicf & !n subsequ5tly )
 ! ,revis$ ,organic ,act ( #aied2 ,:]eas
 ! ,organic ,act ( #aicf pass$ z a      
result ( ef=ts by ,david ,hamilton      
,jackson & ,ro?s*ild ,francis1 along )  
o!rs includ+ ,casp] ,hol/e9 & ,a%ley    
,tott51 all[+ = increas$ self-gov]nm5t1 
bo? ?is & ! ,revis$ ,organic ,act (     
#aied int5d$ to promote ! gr[+ political
 consci\sness ( ,virg9 ,isl&]s & to     
a*ieve great] economy & effici5cy (     
gov]nm5t1 provid+ ! legal base = !      
political & adm9i/rative re-organization
 ( ! ,virg9 ,isl&s2 ,:]eas ?is 0 fur!r$ 
/r5g!n$ report ( ! #aifd to #aife       
,con/itutional ,conv5tion ,report :i*   
recomm5d$ an elective gov]nor &         
lieut5ant gov]nor1 ! cont9uation ( exi/+
 repres5tation1 a ,resid5t ,commission] 

or delegate to ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,h\se (  
,repres5tatives1 & ! "r ( ,virg9 ,isl&]s
 to vote 9 national elections = !       
,presid5t & ,vice ,presid5t ( ! ,unit$  
,/ates2 ,:]eas :ile ef=ts 9 gov]nance   
cont9u$ to evolve ov] ! c\rse ( hi/ory1 
x is also important to docum5t social & 
economic re=ms z well2 ,:]eas aft] !    
transf]1 ! ,virg9 ,isl&s 7 adm9i/]$ by !
 ,unit$ ,/ates ,navy & ) x came an      
improv$ sy/em ( social s]vices & high]  
pay+ jobs associat$ ) milit>y buildup1 &
 lat] ! civil adm9i/ration s\ght to     
develop ! economy ?r\gh ! e/abli%m5t (  
home/ead+ to promote agricultural       
production2 ,:]eas aft] ! end (         
prohibition1 rum production fl\ri%$ &   
cont9ues today1 ?\gh agricultural ef=ts 
witness$ a decl9e2 ,:]eas 9 its place1  
t\rism em]g$ z a major economic driv]1  
exp]i5c+ sub/antial gr[? 9 ! #aiejs &   
#aifjs along ) inve/m5t 9 wat* assembly 
op]ations1 oil ref9+1 & bauxite         
process+2 ,:]eas ! mat]ial & cultural   
h]itage1 9 ! music ( ,quelbe1 ! dance ( 

,quadrille1 & 9 ! pres]v$ ar*itecture   
:i* 0 eng5d]$ dur+ ,dani% rule has      
manife/$ "u ,unit$ ,/ates rule & has    
add$ a dynamic addition to ! ,nation's  
/ory2 ,:]eas ! p ( ! ,virg9 ,isl&s h a  
%>$ hi/orical1 cultural1 & g5etic       
inh]itance l9k+ !m to ,africa1 ,pu]to   
,rico1 ! wid] ,c>ibbean1 ,d5m>k1 & !    
,unit$ ,/ates2 ,:]eas significant       
h>d%ips 7 endur$ by ! enslav$ ,africans 
dur+ ! p]iod ( ,european colonial rule1 
:i* precipitat$ ! #agcc revolution on   
,/4 ,john1 ! successful #ahdh           
,emancipation ,insurrection1 sign$ by   
,dani% ,gov]nor ,pet] von ,s*olt51 !    
#ahgh ,fireburn on ,/4 ,croix1 & ! #ahib
 ,coal ,work]s' ,/rike on ,/4 ,?omas2   
,:]eas by ! _s ( resi/ance1             
insurrection1 & militancy1 enslav$      
,african h]oes l ,g5]al ,buddhoe1 ,anna 
,hega>d1 ,que5s ,m>y1 ,agnes1 ,matilda1 
,bottom ,belly1 ,coziah1 & o!r lead]s1 7
 able to lib]ate !mselves & emancipate !
 ,african p2 ,:]eas ,d5m>k & ! ,unit$   
,/ates are two c\ntries unit$ by %>$    

values & a /rong commitm5t to fre$om1   
democracy1 human rights1 racial ju/ice1 
economic self-suffici5cy1 prosp]ity1    
free m>ket opportunities1 & %\ld cont9ue
 to provide = m economic & cultural     
ex*anges1 trade & inve/m5t1 & p-to-p    
contacts2 ,:]eas ^! ties cont9ue to be  
celebrat$ by a numb] ( organizations su*
 z ,crucian ,h]itage & ,nature ,t\rism  
7,c4,h4,a4,n4,t71 ! ,dani% ,we/ ,indian 
,society1 ,fri5ds ( ,d5m>k1 ,society (  
,virg9 ,isl&s ,hi/orians1 & ! ,virg9    
,isl&s ,social ,hi/ory ,associates1     
among o!rs2 ,:]eas ! ,gov]nm5ts ( ,d5m>k
 & ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,virg9 ,isl&s h _h   
discussions reg>d+ e/abli%+ a memor&um (
 und]/&+ 9 ref]5ce to ! %>+ &           
pres]vation ( ar*ival records1 hi/oric1 
& prehi/oric artifacts2 ,:]eas !re has  
be5 ongo+ collaboration betwe5 s*ools 9 
! ,unit$ ,/ates ,virg9 ,isl&s & ,d5m>k  
all[+ tea*]s & /ud5ts to %>e1 le>n1 &   
/r5g!n int]cultural und]/&+s ( a %>$    
hi/ory ?r\gh ! creation ( new &         
innovative tea*+ mat]ials & a common    

goal to prep>e /ud5ts = global          
citiz5%ip2 ,:]eas by su/a9able t\rism & 
/ud5t ex*anges1 ,danes & ,virg9 ,isl&]s 
c become m aw>e ( ea* o!r's hi/ory &    
cultures2 ,:]eas ?is multicultural1     
e?nic1 national1 & racial h]itage is an 
important ?read t makes ! fabric ( all  
involv$1 x is p>ticul>ly important to ! 
future su/a9able economic developm5t ( !
 ,unit$ ,/ates ,virg9 ,isl&s2 ,:]eas !  
tell+ ( ?is portion ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates   
/ory1 c\ld be fur!r explor$ & enhanc$ by
 a future ,national ,h]itage ,area      
designation2 ,:]eas ! tal5t1 en]gy1 &   
creativity ( ,virg9 ,isl&]s h nurtur$ a 
vibrant society & nation1 embrac+       
entrepr5eur%ip1 te*nological advancem5t1
 & innovation1 & root$ deeply 9 !       
respect = education1 culture1 &         
int]national coop]ation2 ,:]eas m       
collaboration %\ld occur t mu/ transc5d 
! classroom to educate all ,virg9       
,isl&]s1 all ,unit$ ,/ates citiz5s1 &   
all ,danes1 well beyond ! c5t5nial      
commemoration 9 #bjag z education is    

critical to improv+ relations1 und]/&+1 
& ! heal+ process2 ,:]eas ,virg9 ,isl&]s
 & ,dani% ,am]icans h contribut$ greatly
 to ! hi/ory & developm5t ( ! ,unit$    
,/ates1 & ! #ajj? anniv]s>y ( ?is %>$   
legacy %\ld be prop]ly recogniz$2 ,:]eas
 ,virg9 ,isl&]s h s]v$ ! ,unit$ ,/ates 9
 e w> & conflict s9ce ! ,revolution>y   
,w> & h contribut$ to e facet ( life 9 !
 ,unit$ ,/ates2 & ,:]eas #bjag m>ks !   
#ajj? anniv]s>y ( ! ,virg9 ,isl&s becom+
 a "p ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates3 ,n[1 !re=e1 be 
x  ,t ,congress--  7#a7 recognizes &    
celebrates ! #ajj? anniv]s>y ( ! ,virg9 
,isl&s becom+ a "p ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates2   
7#b7 appreciates ! ye>s ( /rong ,unit$  
,/ates-,dani% diplomatic relations2     
7#c7 enc\rages ! ,dep>tm5t ( ! ,int]ior 
to lead ! ,f$]al ef=t to commemorate ?is
 c5t5nial2 &  7#d7 enc\rages ! ,ar*ivi/ 
( ! ,unit$ ,/ates to coop]ate ) !       
,gov]nm5ts ( ,d5m>k & ! ,unit$ ,/ates   
,virg9 ,isl&s 9 digitiz+ ! hi/oric      
records ( ! ,virg9 ,isl&s 9 ,f$]al      
ar*ives & mak+ !m directly accessible to

 ! p ( ! ,virg9 ,isl&s 9 secure rese>*  
facilities locat$ on all ?ree major     
,virg9 ,isl&s4