,,iv  #aae? ,,congress  #a/ ,session    
,h4 ,,con4 ,,res4 #ci  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se   
,,( ,,repres5tatives  ,m>* #bc1         
#bjag,ms4 ,plaskett submitt$ ! foll[+   
concurr5t resolution2 :i* 0 ref]r$ to ! 
,committee on ,natural ,res\rces1 & 9   
addition to ! ,committees on ,=eign     
,affairs1 & ,ov]sight & ,gov]nm5t ,re=m1
 = 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+ & commemorat+ !
 #ajj? anniv]s>y ( ! ,virg9 ,isl&s ( !  
,unit$ ,/ates becom+ a "p ( ! ,unit$    
,/ates4  ,:]eas1 on ,m>* #ca1 #bjag1 !  
,virg9 ,isl&s ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates w       
commemorate #ajj ye>s ( be+ a "p ( !    
,unit$ ,/ates2 ,:]eas ! ,virg9 ,isl&s ( 
! ,unit$ ,/ates w use ?is anniv]s>y1 9  
"p1 to commemorate its hi/ory1 culture1 
& div]sity2 ,:]eas "o ( ! e>lie/        
hi/orical acc\nts ( ! ,virg9 ,isl&s ( ! 
,unit$ ,/ates 0 9 #adic1 :5 ,c>ib       
inhabitants on ,/4 ,croix engag$        

,*ri/oph] ,columbus on 8 second voyage1 
9 :at is consid]$ ! fir/ insurg5ce aga9/
 ,european colonization 9 ! ,new ,_w2   
,:]eas ! ?ree l>ge/ isl&s ( ! ,virg9    
,isl&s ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates 7 rul$ by at   
lea/ six sov]eigns ov] ! pa/ #ejj ye>s2 
,:]eas ,d5m>k began its acquisition ( ! 
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   
,:]eas1 dur+ a #bej-ye> span ( hi/ory1  
,d5m>k coloniz$ ^? ?ree isl&s z a "p ( !
 sug> trade1 :i* includ$ p>ticipation 9 
! transatlantic slave trade & a         
plantation-bas$ sy/em t subjugat$       
slaves2 ,:]eas significant h>d%ips 7    
endur$ by enslav$ ,africans dur+ ! p]iod
 ( ,european colonial rule1 :i*         
precipitat$ ! #agcc revolution on ,/4   
,john1 ! #ahdh insurrection &           
emancipation decl>ation sign$ by ,dani% 
,gov]nor ,pet] von ,s*olt51 ! #ahgh     
rebellion on ,/4 ,croix kn[n z !        

,fireburn1 & ! #ahib coal work]s' /rike 
on ,/4 ,?omas2 ,:]eas1 by ! _s (        
resi/ance1 enslav$ ,african h]oes l     
,g5]al ,buddhoe1 ,anna ,hega>d1 ! ,que5s
 ,m>y1 ,agnes1 ,matilda1 ,bottom ,belly1
 & ,coziah1 & o!r lead]s 7 able to      
lib]ate !mselves & emancipate ! ,african
 p2 ,:]eas an isl&wide slave            
insurrection on ,/4 ,croix 9 ,july (    
#ahdh result$ 9 ! (ficial abolition (   
slav]y 9 ! ,dani% ,we/ ,indies2 ,:]eas !
 decl9e ( ! sug> indu/ry 9 ! region l$  
,d5m>k to seek a buy] = ! ,dani% ,we/   
,indies2 ,:]eas ! ,unit$ ,/ates1 seek+ a
 /rategic base to protect its assets 9 !
 ,c>ibbean1 includ+ ! newly built       
,panama ,canal1 pur*as$ ! ,dani% ,we/   
,indies 9 #aiag ?r\gh ! ,conv5tion      
,betwe5 ! ,unit$ ,/ates & ,d5m>k =      
,cession ( ! ,dani% ,we/ ,indies1 :i*   
confirm$ t ! civil rights & political   
/atus ( ! inhabitants ( ! isl&s w\ld be 
det]m9$ by ,congress2 ,:]eas ! transf] (
 ! ,dani% ,we/ ,indies to ! ,unit$      
,/ates took place on ,m>* #ca1 #aiag1 ) 

c]emonies on ,/4 ,?omas & ,/4 ,croix &  
is commemorat$ annually 9 ! ,virg9      
,isl&s ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates z ,transf]     
,day2 ,:]eas1 aft] ! transf]1 ! ,virg9  
,isl&s ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates 0 adm9i/]$ by !
 ,navy1 :i* l$ to an improv$ sy/em (    
social s]vices1 high] pay+ jobs         
associat$ ) milit>y buildup1 &1 lat]1 ! 
developm5t ( ! economy ?r\gh increas$   
agricultural production2 ,:]eas1 betwe5 
#aibd & #aibg1 sev]al propos$ bills =   
con/itutional re=m 7 discuss$ by        
congressional committees on insul>      
affairs1 ?\gh action did n manife/ until
 ! enactm5t ( ! ,organic ,act ( ! ,virg9
 ,isl&s 9 #aicf & ! ,revis$ ,organic    
,act ( ! ,virg9 ,isl&s 9 #aied2 ,:]eas !
 ,organic ,act ( ! ,virg9 ,isl&s pass$ z
 a result ( ef=ts by ,david ,hamilton   
,jackson & ,ro?s*ild ,francis1 along )  
o!rs1 includ+ ,casp] ,hol/e9 & ,a%ley   
,tott51 all[+ = increas$ self-gov]nm5t =
 ! ,virg9 ,isl&s ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates2     
,:]eas ! ,revis$ ,organic ,act ( !      
,virg9 ,isl&s promot$ ! gr[+ political  

consci\sness ( ,virg9 ,isl&]s1 a*iev$   
great] economy & effici5cy ( gov]nm5t1 &
 provid$ ! legal basis = ! political &  
adm9i/rative reorganization ( ! ,virg9  
,isl&s ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates2 ,:]eas ?is 0  
fur!r$ /r5g!n$ by ! #aife ,con/itutional
 ,conv5tion ,report1 :i* recomm5d$ an   
elective ,gov]nor & ,lieut5ant ,gov]nor1
 ! cont9uation ( exi/+ repres5tation1 a 
,resid5t ,commission] or ,delegate to ! 
,h\se ( ,repres5tatives1 & ! "r ( ,virg9
 ,isl&]s to vote 9 national elections = 
! ,presid5t & ,vice ,presid5t ( ! ,unit$
 ,/ates2 ,:]eas ! mission =             
self-det]m9ation & con/itutional re=m   
cont9ues today2 ,:]eas ! ,virg9 ,isl&s (
 ! ,unit$ ,/ates common hi/ory ) !      
,unit$ ,/ates dates back to ,alex&]     
,hamilton1 :o 0 rais$ on ! isl& ( ,/4   
,croix & lat] became "o ( ! lead]s ( !  
,am]ican ,revolution & ! fir/ ,secret>y 
( ! ,treasury2 ,:]eas ! p ( ! ,virg9    
,isl&s ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates h made         
significant contributions to ! ,unit$   
,/ates1 includ+--  7#a7 ,william        

,leidesdorff ( ,/4 ,croix1 a sea capta91
 m]*ant1 trad]1 l&[n]1 civic lead]1 e>ly
 ,cali=nia pione]1 & ! fir/ ,black      
millionaire 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates2  7#b7    
,camille ,piss>o1 a ,fr5* impressioni/  
pa9t] :o 0 born on ,/4 ,?omas2  7#c7    
,edw>d ,wilmot ,blyd51 an intellectual1 
educator1 l+ui/1 cl]gyman1 au?or1       
/atesman1 college presid5t1 & fa!r (    
,pan-,africanism2  7#d7 ,hub]t ,h4      
,h>rison1 a writ]1 tea*]1 orator1       
editor1 labor lead]1 & ,r5aissance ,man2
  7#e7 ,morris ,simmonds1 a ,g]man      
physician & not$ pa?ologi/1 aft] :om a  
disease ( ! pituit>y gl& kn[n z         
,simmonds ,disease is nam$2  7#f7 ,ar?ur
 ,a4 ,s*omburg1 a bibliophile1 hi/orian1
 curator1 & activi/ :o rais$ aw>5ess ( !
 great contributions t ,african ,lat9   
,am]icans & ,african ,am]icans h made to
 society1 & ^: collection ( lit]ature & 
art is n[ "p ( ! ,s*omburg ,c5t] =      
,rese>* 9 ,black ,culture at ! ,new     
,york ,public ,libr>y 9 ,h>lem2  7#g7   
,alton ,a4 ,adams1 a musician & ! fir/  

,black b&ma/] ( ! ,navy2  7#h7 ,so/h5es 
,behn1 a soldi]1 indu/riali/1 bus9ess   
innovator1 & f\nd] ( ! ,int]national    
,telephone & ,telegraph ,company2  7#i7 
,casp] ,hol/e91 a humanit>ian &         
philan?ropi/ :o advocat$ = improv+ !    
/&>d ( liv+ = ,virg9 ,isl&]s & = a      
great] degree ( isl& self-gov]nm5t2     
7#aj7 ,nella ,l>s51 "o ( ! mo/          
influ5tial noveli/s ( ! ,h>lem          
,r5aissance2  7#aa7 ,a%ley ,l4 ,tott51  
an organiz] & (fic] ( ! ,bro!rhood (    
,sleep+ ,c> ,port]s & lead] ( ! ,am]ican
 ,virg9 ,isl&s ,civic & ,indu/rial      
,association ( ,new ,york2  7#ab7       
,alonzo ,g4 ,moron1 ! ,presid5t (       
,hampton ,univ]sity f #aidi to #aiei2   
7#ac7 ,valmy ,?omas1 a pr(essional      
baseball play] & ! fir/ ,virg9 ,isl&s ( 
! ,unit$ ,/ates native to play 9 ,major 
,league ,baseball2  7#ad7 ,claude ,a4   
,b5nie ,b5jam91 a musician1 compos]1 &  
ent]ta9] :o compos$ musical !mes =      
sev]al ,walt ,disney pictures2  7#ae7   
,j4 ,raymond ,jones1 a politician1 p[]  

brok]1 & ,tammany ,hall *ief2  7#af7    
,roy ,innis1 an activi/1 politician1 &  
,national ,*airman ( ! ,congress (      
,racial ,equality f #aifh to #bjag2     
7#ag7 ! ,honorable ,melv9 ,h4 ,evans1 ! 
fir/ elect$ ,gov]nor ( ! ,virg9 ,isl&s (
 ! ,unit$ ,/ates & ,ambassador to       
,tr9idad & ,tobago2  7#ah7 ! ,honorable 
,t]5ce ,a4 ,todman1 a c>e] ,ambassador  
:o s]v$ ! ,unit$ ,/ates across ! globe =
 almo/ #ej ye>s1 :o 0 decorat$ by !     
,gov]nm5ts ( ,d5m>k1 ,spa91 ,arg5t9a1 & 
,*ad1 & :o receiv$ ! ,presid5tial       
,di/+ui%$ ,s]vice ,aw>d1 ! ,national    
,public ,s]vice ,aw>d1 ! ,director      
,g5]al's ,cup1 & ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,/ate's  
,sup]ior ,s]vice ,honor ,aw>d &         
,di/+ui%$ ,s]vice ,aw>d2  7#ai7 !       
,honorable ,ron de ,lugo1 ! fir/        
,delegate to ,congress f ! ,virg9 ,isl&s
 ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates & :o sp5t #dj ye>s 9 
public s]vice1 locally & nationally1    
f\ght to increase ! rights & privileges 
= t]ritorial delegates1 work$ = ! full  
political /atus ( ! ,virg9 ,isl&s ( !   

,unit$ ,/ates1 & s]v$ z ! *airman ( !   
,subcommittee on ,insul> & ,int]national
 ,affairs2 &  7#bj7 ! ,honorable ,donna 
,*ri/ian-,*ri/5s51 a ,delegate to       
,congress f ! ,virg9 ,isl&s ( ! ,unit$  
,/ates & ! fir/ female physician to s]ve
 9 ,congress2  ,:]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 ,ullmont ,l4 ,james1 ,sr41     
,victor ,lebron1 & o!rs h made          
sub/antial contributions to gov]nm5t1   
sports1 & ! arts 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates2     
,:]eas ,d5m>k & ! ,unit$ ,/ates are     
unit$ by %>$ values & a /rong commitm5t 
to fre$om1 democracy1 human rights1     
racial ju/ice1 economic self-suffici5cy1
 prosp]ity1 & free m>ket opportunities &
 %\ld cont9ue to provide = economic &   
cultural ex*anges1 trade & inve/m5t1 &  
p-to-p contacts2 ,:]eas ! ,gov]nm5ts (  
,d5m>k & ! ,virg9 ,isl&s ( ! ,unit$     

,/ates h discuss$ e/abli%+ a memor&um ( 
und]/&+ = %>+ & pres]v+ ar*ival records 
& hi/oric & prehi/oric artifacts2 ,:]eas
 !re has be5 ongo+ collaboration betwe5 
s*ools 9 ! ,virg9 ,isl&s ( ! ,unit$     
,/ates & ,d5m>k1 all[+ tea*]s & /ud5ts  
to %>e1 le>n1 & /r5g!n int]cultural     
und]/&+s ( a %>$ hi/ory ?r\gh ! creation
 ( new tea*+ mat]ials & a common goal to
 prep>e /ud5ts = global citiz5%ip2      
,:]eas m collaboration %\ld occur1      
transc5d+ ! classroom to educate all    
,virg9 ,isl&]s1 ,unit$ ,/ates citiz5s1 &
 ,danes1 beyond ! c5t5nial commemoration
 9 #bjag because education is critical  
to improv+ relations1 und]/&+1 & ! heal+
 process2 ,:]eas ! mat]ial & cultural   
h]itage t 0 eng5d]$ dur+ ,dani% rule1   
su* z ! music ( ,quelbe1 ! dance (      
,quadrille1 & ! pres]v$ ar*itecture1 has
 manife/$ "u ,unit$ ,/ates rule & has   
become a dynamic addition to ! /ory ( ! 
,unit$ ,/ates2 ,:]eas ! p ( ! ,virg9    
,isl&s ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates1 l ! p ( !     
,unit$ ,/ates1 h a div]se hi/orical1    

cultural1 & g5etic inh]itance l9k+ !m to
 ,africa1 ! ,c>ibbean1 & ,europe2 ,:]eas
 ,virg9 ,isl&]s & ,dani% ,am]icans h    
contribut$ greatly to ! hi/ory &        
developm5t ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates1 & ! #ajj? 
anniv]s>y ( _! %>$ 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 ( ! ,unit$  
,/ates becom+ a "p ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates3   
,n[1 !re=e1 be x  ,t ,congress-- 7#a7   
recognizes & commemorates ! #ajj?       
anniv]s>y ( ! ,virg9 ,isl&s ( ! ,unit$  
,/ates becom+ a "p ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates2   
7#b7 appreciates ! _m ye>s ( /rong      
,unit$ ,/ates-,dani% diplomatic         
relations2  7#c7 ackn[l$ges ! creation (
 ! ,virg9 ,isl&s ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates      
,c5t5nial ,commission1 e/abli%$ "u      
,public ,law #aad-bbd1 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 & ! ,virg9 ,isl&s ( ! ,unit$     
,/ates to digitize ! hi/orical records (
 ! ,virg9 ,isl&s ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates 9 !  
,f$]al ar*ives1 & make !m directly      
accessible to ! p ( ! ,virg9 ,isl&s ( ! 
,unit$ ,/ates 9 secure rese>* facilities
 locat$ on all ?ree major isl&s ( !     
,virg9 ,isl&s ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates4