,,iv  #aah? ,,congress  #a/ ,session    
,h4 ,,res4 #cfh  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(     
,,repres5tatives  ,may #e1 #bjbc,ms4    
,plaskett 7= h]self & ,mr4 ,res*5?al]7  
submitt$ ! foll[+ resolution2 :i* 0     
ref]r$ to ! ,committee on ,ov]sight &   
,acc\ntability  ,,resolution  ,enc\rag+ 
,am]icans to recognize ! hi/orical      
significance ( ,emancipation ,day to !  
,virg9 ,isl&s ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates & !     
,nation4  ,:]eas1 prior to ,july #c1    
#ahdh1 _m ,africans 7 held z *attel     
slaves on ! isl&s ( ! ,dani% ,we/       
,indies1 n[ ! ,virg9 ,isl&s ( ! ,unit$  
,/ates2 ,:]eas1 on ,july #c1 #ahdh1     
enslav$ p ( ,african desc5t on ^! isl&s 
took _! fre$om aft] ye>s ( brutality &  
suff]+2 ,:]eas ! emancipation ( enslav$ 
,africans on ^! isl&s 0 a significant   
mom5t 9 hi/ory t m>k$ ! end ( c5turies (
 oppression1 & u%]$ 9 an era ( fre$om1  
hope1 & opportunity2 ,:]eas !           
emancipation ( enslav$ ,africans on ^!  
isl&s is a te/am5t to ! /r5g? &         
resili5ce ( ! human _s2 ,:]eas !        

emancipation ( enslav$ ,africans on ^!  
isl&s is "p ( ! hi/ory ( abolitionism & 
emancipation 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates2 ,:]eas !
 ,unit$ ,/ates aboli%$ slav]y on        
,decemb] #f1 #ahfe1 ^u ratification ( ! 
,?irte5? ,am5dm5t to ! ,con/itution2    
,:]eas ! ,unit$ ,/ates has a ri*        
cultural h]itage t has be5 fur!r$ by its
 hi/ory ( abolitionism & emancipation2  
,:]eas ! ,virg9 ,isl&s ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates
 has made significant contributions to !
 cultural1 economic1 & social fabric ( !
 ,unit$ ,/ates1 & its p h s]v$ ! ,unit$ 
,/ates 9 e w> & conflict s9ce !         
,revolution>y ,w>1 contribut$ to e facet
 ( life 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates1 & play$ an   
important role 9 %ap+ ! hi/ory & id5tity
 ( ! ,nation2 ,:]eas1 = #age ye>s1      
,emancipation ,day celebrations h be5   
held to honor ! /r5g? ( ,african        
desc5dants on ! isl&s n[ kn[n z ! ,virg9
 ,isl&s ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates1 :o f\ght     
valiantly = _! fre$om2 ,:]eas !         
recognition ( ,july #c1 #bjbc1 z ! #age?
 obs]vance ( ! emancipation ( enslav$   

,africans 9 ! ,virg9 ,isl&s ( ! ,unit$  
,/ates provides an opportunity = all p (
 ! ,unit$ ,/ates to reflect on ! legacy 
( emancipation & ! /ruggle = ju/ice &   
equality2 & ,:]eas ! c\rage ( ! h]oes ( 
emancipation 9 ! ,virg9 ,isl&s ( !      
,unit$ ,/ates & ! ,unit$ ,/ates z a :ole
 s]ves to connect ,virg9 ,isl&]s & all  
,am]icans to _! pa/1 & to re9=ce _!     
unwav]+ commitm5t to pres]ve1 protect1 &
 def5d fre$om3 ,n[1 !re=e1 be x ,t--    
7#a7 ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives-- 7,a7   
enc\rages ,am]icans to recognize !      
hi/orical significance ( ,emancipation  
,day to ! ,virg9 ,isl&s ( ! ,unit$      
,/ates & ! ,nation2 &  7,b7 supports !  
cont9u$ celebration ( ,emancipation ,day
 = ! ,am]ican p to-- 7i7 le>n m ab\t !  
pa/2  7ii7 bett] und]/& ! exp]i5ces t h 
%ap$ ! ,nation2 &  7iii7 ma9ta9 _!      
unwav]+ commitm5t to pres]ve1 protect1 &
 def5d human rights & fre$om2 &  7#b7 x 
is ! s5se ( ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives t 
! celebration ( ! end ( slav]y is an    
important & enri*+ "p ( ! hi/ory &      

h]itage ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates4