,,iv  #aad? ,,congress  #a/ ,session    
,h4 ,,res4 #bia  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(     
,,repres5tatives  ,june #b1 #bjae ,ms4  
,plaskett submitt$ ! foll[+ resolution2 
:i* 0 ref]r$ to ! ,committee on         
,ov]sight & ,gov]nm5t ,re=m             
,,resolution  ,express+ ! s5se ( ! ,h\se
 ( ,repres5tatives t ! ,unit$ ,/ates    
,po/al ,s]vice %\ld issue a             
commemorative /amp commemorat+ ! #ajj?  
,anniv]s>y ( ! pur*ase ( ! t]ritories   
kn[n z ! ,virg9 ,isl&s ( ! ,unit$       
,/ates4  ,:]eas1 on ,m>* #ca1 #bjag1 !  
,virg9 ,isl&s ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates w       
celebrate #ajj ye>s z a possession & "p 
( ! union ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates ( ,am]ica2  
,:]eas ! ,unit$ ,/ates ( ,am]ica pur*as$
 f ,d5m>k = tw5ty-five million          
7#be1jjj1jjj7 ,u4,s4 doll>s 9 gold !    
isl&s ( ! ,dani% ,we/ ,indies )9 !      
,c>ibbean ,sea n[ kn[n z ! ,virg9 ,isl&s
 ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates = geopolitical1      
milit>y1 & economic protection &        
expansion ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates int]e/ 9 !  
,c>ibbean region2 ,:]eas su* pur*ase 0 !

 culm9ation ( a half-c5tury ( int]e/ by 
! ,unit$ ,/ates ( ,am]ican ) ! ,dani%   
,gov]nm5t = ! isl&s z an ea/]ly po9t to 
! ,unit$ ,/ates1 an important "p to !   
region hav+ s]v$ z ! hub ( ,we/]n       
hemisph]e comm]ce 9 ! region = sev]al   
c5turies1 & s]v+ a crucial role 9 naval 
milit>y activity 9 ! ,c>ibbean ,bas92   
,:]eas ! transf] ( ! ,dani% ,we/ ,indies
 to ! ,unit$ ,/ates took place on ,m>*  
#ca1 #aiag1 & is commemorat$ annually by
 hold+ ,transf] ,day c]emonies 9 !      
,virg9 ,isl&s ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates2 ,:]eas 
! p ( ! ,virg9 ,isl&s ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates 
include b are n limit$ to ! desc5dants (
 ,european immigrants1 enslav$          
,africans1 native inhabitants1 & p f o!r
 ,c>ibbean isl&s1 ,s\? ,am]ica1 & !     
cont95tal ,unit$ ,/ates2 ,:]eas ?r\gh ! 
arts1 politics1 & intellectual disc\rse1
 ?\gh small 9 size1 ! ,virg9 ,isl&s ( ! 
,unit$ ,/ates cont9ue to contribute &   
positively p>ticipate 9 ! ri* fabric ( !
 ,unit$ ,/ates :ile *]i%+ its unique &  
ri* ,c>ibbean hi/ory & culture2 ,:]eas !

 contribution ( ! ,virg9 ,isl&s ( !     
,unit$ ,/ates includes b is n limit$ to 
s]v+ z draft]s1 soldi]s1 & patriots ( ! 
new ,nation ?r\gh notables su* z ,alex&]
 ,hamilton1 lead]%ip = bo? sides ( !    
great "q ( slav]y & race 9 ! new        
,nation1 by lead+ slave revolts ?r\gh   
individuals su* z ,d5m>k ,vesey & act+ z
 ,secret>y ( ! ,treasury ( ! ,conf$]ate 
,/ates 9 ! p]son ( ,judah ,b5jam91 s]v+ 
z explor]s & entrepr5eurs ( ! ,unit$    
,/ates ?r\gh ,unit$ ,/ates ,s5ator      
,david ,yulee ( ,florida & "o ( ! f\nd]s
 ( ,san ,francisco1 ,william            
,leidesdorff2 ,:]eas1 z ! ,virg9 ,isl&s 
( ! ,unit$ ,/ates ent]s its next c5tury 
( inclusion ! great c\ntry1 x w h       
cont9u$ relevance 9 ! region z issues ( 
=eign inve/m5t1 increas+ levels 9       
m>itime & in=mation te*nology1 & comm]ce
 gr[ 9 ! region1 & ,c>ibbean nations    
look to ! ,virg9 ,isl&s ( ! ,unit$      
,/ates z ! physical example & influ5ce 9
 ! region ( ,am]ican ?\ght1 economic    
lead]%ip1 & sophi/ication2 ,:]eas !     

,virg9 ,isl&s ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates w use   
?is anniv]s>y to commemorate hi/ory1    
culture1 & div]sity2 ,:]eas ,virg9      
,isl&]s h s]v$ ! ,unit$ ,/ates 9 e w> & 
conflict s9ce ! ,revolution>y ,w> & h   
contribut$ to e facet ( hi/ory & life ( 
! ,unit$ ,/ates2 ,:]eas #bjag m>ks !    
#ajj? anniv]s>y ( ! ,virg9 ,isl&s becom+
 a "p ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates2 & ,:]eas issu+ 
a po/age /amp commemorat+ ! #ajj?       
,anniv]s>y ( ! ,virg9 ,isl&s becom+ a "p
 ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates is fitt+ & prop]     
because today ! t]ritory is "u !        
jurisdiction ( ! presid5t ( ! ,unit$    
,/ates ( ,am]ica & resid5ts are ,am]ican
 citiz5s3 ,n[1 !re=e1 be x  ,t x is !   
s5se ( ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives t--    
7#a7 ! ,po/ma/] ,g5]al %\ld issue a     
commemorative po/age /amp commemorat+ ! 
#ajj? ,anniv]s>y ( ! ,virg9 ,isl&s      
becom+ a "p ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates2 &  7#b7  
su* /amp %\ld-- 7,a7 be issu$ 9 !       
d5om9ation us$ = fir/-class mail up to  
#a ounce 9 weight2  7,b7 be> su*        
illu/ration or picture z ! ,po/ma/]     

,g5]al det]m9es2 &  7,c7 be plac$ 9 sale
 at su* "t & = su* p]iod z ! ,po/ma/]   
,g5]al det]m9es4